Savage

by awalkerlifeforme

She was everything people feared. She wanted to defend the world but also wanted revenge on those who wrecked hers. The ones who forced her to leave Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. Now she's back and while Steve attempts to get back the woman he's always considered his sister, Bucky hopes to thaw the ice that has formed around her heart. A heart that he had always believed was his.

42. Chapter 41

In the months that followed Roosevelt's awkward visit to the base things were oddly quiet. Not just because of the lack of missions as we attempted to locate Zola. It was because people were trying to avoid upsetting me by reminding me of what happened with the president. They were trying to avoid the conversation that would have to take place in the coming months. The conversation that would be forced the moment that Roosevelt offered Bucky's head on a platter, the only thing that was still making me nervous.

The last thing I'd wanted was to put Bucky's life in danger and that had somehow been the exact thing to happen. Roosevelt wouldn't budge on what he'd said. That much I knew. If I didn't step back from the public eye and leave Bucky alone, he would ensure that Bucky's life was as wanted as mine was. Unfortunately, there was no going back. All we could do now was move forward. No matter what threats came forward, I would always be there to protect Bucky and all of the rest of my family.

Bucky had tried his absolute hardest to keep me in good spirits since Roosevelt's visit. To his credit, it had mostly worked. It helped that we had been busy. It was now mid-September and we had been extremely busy over the past few weeks. We had spent much of our time dedicated to finding the train that would eventually take us right to Zola. But that transport had been well-protected by Hydra. Like the others, I had spent hours on end trying to find where it was. I looked through mind after mind that I could locate but I couldn't find them.

At the moment I was sitting in my office looking through my maps and schedules of any and all trains coming into and leaving Scotland. It was tough to be secretive with so many people looking at us. I was sitting by myself at my desk trying to figure things out. I had spent a lot of time lately trying to figure out where the train could be. But none of the people whose minds I'd read had understood where the hell Zola was. At this point, he and Schmidt were likely the only ones who knew where they were going. I couldn't even use the Red Skull or Zola themselves.

Naturally, going for the two of them was the first thing I had done after realizing that we needed to find them before the train took off. But they had both anticipated my reaction. They had both been smart enough to know that they had to stop me before it was too late. Evidently, the pair had both fused adamantium plates over their skull. Much like the adamantium bullet had erased Logan's memory, the adamantium plates made it impossible for me to read their minds. I couldn't penetrate the metal to read the brain waves. An admittedly very smart move on their part.

Thankfully, they were the only people who had thus far managed the revelation. But it, unfortunately, meant that we had to look the old-fashioned way. The door suddenly opened but I didn't look up. I wasn't interested in seeing anyone right now, save Bucky. But right now he was off training. He seemed to have been a little tense this morning. Maybe he hadn't been sleeping well. Whatever it was, I knew that he would tell me when he was ready. He had mentioned that he just wanted to use the punching bags for a while. The large figure fell unannounced in the empty seat next to me.

"Hello," Howard said, grinning as he leaned back in the chair he had long-since designated as his own.

"Goodbye," I barked, staring down at the map.

"Don't be rude," Howard said, swatting my hand away from the map. I rolled my eyes at him and finally pushed the map to the corner of the desk. "I have something to show you."

"What?" I asked shortly.

"Well, I more have something to ask you."

"Spit it out."

"There's a ball that I host annually."

"Really?" I interrupted, laughing haughtily.

It was so like Howard to do something like hosting a ball. I hadn't even realized that those were things that happened outside of fairy tales. "Let me talk, damn it," Howard snapped.

"Okay. Okay. I'll listen to the whole thing. Go ahead," I said, waving my hand at him to indicate that I would be quiet.

Howard glared at me for a few moments before continuing. "As I said, every year Stark Industries hosts a ball. A gala, if you will. Essentially to say 'thank you' to everyone who has been so generous to offer their time and money to support our causes," Howard explained. I nodded. "It moves locations every year. Invite only. Highly prestigious."

"Or pompous," I interrupted, grinning at myself. Howard shot me another glare. "Sorry. Continue."

"This year I'm planning it again. We held the gala in Dubai last year. We're planning on holding it in London this year," Howard said slowly. My heart sank to the floor. I already knew where this one was going; it wasn't somewhere I was fond of. "This year it is to support to Army's biggest benefactors - Stark Industries being the largest. But also to honor those who have fought the hardest. Those who have been out on the battlefield. Those who usually don't get many thanks for their sacrifices."

"Us," I said, filling in the blanks.

Howard nodded at me. "All of them. You."

A gala held by Howard Stark wouldn't change things between myself and the public eye. They would always hate me. "That's a very sweet thought, Howard. But you've seen what happens when I go out in the public eye," I said quietly.

"It's not public. It's private," Howard said.

"Meaning?" I asked.

"Meaning that I'll only be inviting the people who will have absolutely nothing to say about you. Or, at least the people who are smart enough to keep their mouths shut," Howard explained. I arched a brow. He was going to remove people just because they had something to say about me? What about all those who would try and attack me while there? Howard seemed to know what I was getting ready to say. "No security anywhere in the event. Not for the visitors."

It would keep me out of harm's way. But what about for the rest of them? "Is that really safe?" I asked him.

"You're my security," Howard said.

I smiled sideways at him. "When is it?" I asked.

"It'll be soon," Howard said, grinning back.

If he really wanted me to be there, I supposed that I would be. It was important to him. "I don't have anything to wear," I pointed out.

A wedding dress wouldn't exactly be appropriate to wear to a gala. And I didn't have anything else nice enough to wear to one of Howard's events. He waved an arm at me carelessly. "I'll take care of it."

"Honestly, Howard, how much money do you waste on me?" I asked him.

Howard shook his head. "Not a dime. Nothing that I've spent on you is a waste," he said. I disagreed, but it was up to him how he spent his money. "Money is... monetary."

"That's the point, I think," I interrupted.

"I wasn't done," Howard snapped. I smiled at him. "I can always earn more money. But I haven't had many friends like you. Maybe it's because they can't see through whatever facade I decide to put up. They can't see right through to my soul the way you can. You're there to knock me down which, quite frankly, I could use." I giggled softly. "But you've made any struggles I've faced look like I just got a few raindrops on my car after having it waxed. You deserve to have all the good in the world. Anything I can do to help get you there, I will."

For a long time, Howard and I stared at each other. When I first met him two years ago I would have never thought that I'd come to love him as much as I did. Somehow, I had. Maybe it was because I did know the real Howard Stark. A good and understanding man with a heart far too big for himself. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss against Howard's cheek. His hand laid itself on my knee and slowly tightened. He might not have ever let it on, but he had a good heart and a soft one. Just as I deserved my happiness, Howard did too.

"So, can I tell everyone that Howard Stark has a heart?" I finally asked, shattering the silence.

Howard grinned slightly. "Only for you, love," he said, resting his hand on my leg.

But he was slowly proving himself to have a big heart for everyone at the base. "When is the ball?" I asked.

"Three weeks from now," Howard answered.

"I still don't have anything to wear," I said quietly.

"Trust me, I'll handle that," Howard said.

"I don't trust you," I snapped.

If I left my dress up to Howard, I had a feeling that my mutations would become the least of my worries. "Do you trust Peggy?" Howard asked.

More than likely, Howard had already brought this to Peggy's attention. "Unfortunately, I do," I groaned, crossing my arms over my chest. One way or another, I was going to get stuck going out with them. "Is this your plan of trying to get me to go out shopping with Peggy for some type of gown while also managing to get me to freshen up my wardrobe?"

Howard chuckled. "Ah, you know me well."

"Not going to lie?"

"It's you. There's no point."

"I'll buy a gown and go to your stupid gala but that's it."

"Just spend one afternoon -"

"No," I interrupted. I'd worn the same clothes for years and I wasn't planning on changing them anytime soon. They were functional and that was what I needed. "What is so wrong with my clothing?"

Howard scoffed. "It's hideous."

"No one ever says anything about it!" I snapped.

"Because everyone's scared of you," Howard pointed out.

"You're not," I pointed out.

At least, he tried to keep it relatively secretive that he was afraid of me. "I've been lit on fire by you," Howard said. I shrugged. Lots of people had been set on fire by me. "How much worse could it get?"

"Don't ask," I said. I could have irradiated him. He would have really not liked that - especially if his face took any of the damage. I glanced down at my simple trousers and black shirt and scowled. "Bucky's never said anything about it."

Howard shrugged. "The man gets to see you naked right now. You think he would say anything to jeopardize that?"

My face burned a brilliant red. There went my theory that no one really knew what Bucky and I did in the middle of the night. "Howard!" I yelped, whacking him on the shoulder.

"Am I wrong?" Howard asked carelessly.

"Well... no... but..." I trailed off dumbly. Howard turned to me and grinned. That was definitely what he had been working at to try and get me to admit. "Damn it, you didn't have to say it like that!"

Howard began chuckling, patting me affectionately on the knee. "Oh, I'm sorry, Victoria. I just love the look on your face when I point out that the two of you are doing what many engaged people do," Howard said. I still scowled at him. I wasn't really sure how many engaged people did what we did. Didn't most of them wait until they were married? Howard quickly noticed that I was shifting around awkwardly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. You know that."

It wasn't that I was necessarily ashamed. It was just something better kept between the two of us. "There's a lot of things I have to be ashamed of. That's not one of them," I said honestly.

"You don't have anything to be ashamed of," Howard said.

"Thanks."

Without saying anything, Howard jumped out of his chair and gave me a hand. "Come with me."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Howard scowled at me. "Just come with me."

But where we were going? I knew that Howard wouldn't tell me so I merely stared at him. It lasted for a few moments before I finally nodded my agreement. We both smiled at each other as Howard wrapped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me from my desk, just barely giving me a chance to throw a jacket over my work. Not that it really mattered. I'd only managed to cross off a few places from my map. But we still didn't need anyone finding out that we were taking on this part all on our own. The army definitely wouldn't like that.

We were halfway down the hallway when we ran straight into Peggy. I groaned at the sight of her. I knew that Howard had been timing it perfectly so that we would run into her on her way to lunch. It only took her a brief second to come and join us. It took her less than a minute to get on my side and start harassing Howard about getting him a potential date for the gala. He tried to ignore us, telling us that we were the only girls he ever needed. As I attempted to continue the conversation, Howard flipped it to my wardrobe, a conversation that Peggy happily hopped on board with.

Just as we were heading out to the cars, we were sidelined by Bucky. He had interrupted a very annoying conversation about what kind of dress I would look best in. "Looks like you're having a good time," Bucky teased, noticing my scowl.

"They are. I'm not," I growled.

Bucky raised an amused brow. "We're taking your blushing bride-to-be shopping," Howard told him.

Bucky's jaw practically dropped. "Shopping?" Bucky asked, sounding shocked. Howard and Peggy both smiled. She leaned over my shoulders and I rolled my eyes, shoving her off me. "What'd you have to do to convince her?"

"I told her about the gala," Howard explained.

"Ah," Bucky chuckled.

"You knew?" I asked him curiously.

"Of course," Bucky told me. We both laughed. I should have known that Howard would tell everyone except me, as he knew that I would be the one to fight back against having to go to a formal event. "Go. Have fun. I'll see you later."

Just as I was about to turn and leave, I looked back at him. "Are you okay with the gala?" I asked.

Bucky hummed gently. "Surprisingly, I am. I think it'll be good for all of us to be out there together. I think it'll be good to see you... like them. To realize that you might be a little different but still just the same," he pointed out. I shook my head at him. We were so different. I had accepted that. It was their turn now. "You deserve some recognition for everything you do."

"I don't need it," I said quietly.

Bucky reached up and brushed my hair back. "But you deserve it."

I smiled at him. "We'll get her something nice," Howard told Bucky, walking up to my side. They both nodded at each other. "Enjoy your afternoon."

"Perhaps you should get a suit for yourself," Peggy suggested.

"We'll see if I can convince the guys to get out there," Bucky told us.

"You'll have to bring half the pub with you," Peggy joked.

We all laughed at the very true statement. The boys wouldn't go shopping unless there was the promise of getting drunk along with it. I wished that I could do the same. I leaned up and pressed a long kiss against Bucky's mouth, which Howard and Peggy hooted at. I rolled my eyes at them and latched onto their clothes, dragging them with me. The pair immediately started talking about what they could potentially buy me. I tried to ignore them as we walked off, instead, focusing on the warm sun against my skin. I'd been so oddly happy lately. So happy that I could hardly believe it.

Bucky's P.O.V.

As Howard, Peggy, and Vika walked off, Bucky turned back and headed back down the hallway he'd come from. It was probably for the best that they all get their suits as well. He went toward the offices with the intention to gather the men and take them all to get fitted for tuxedos. Howard would definitely be furious if they weren't all dressed their best. It took Bucky a long time to find Steve - who wasn't in the labs, training rooms, or dining room. The last place he checked was Steve's room. He knocked on the door, which opened after a brief moment.

Steve's notebook was sitting open on his bed. It appeared to be a half-finished drawing. "Hey, man," Steve greeted, opening the door and letting Bucky in. "Where's Vic?"

"Howard and Peggy took her out to get her a gown for that gala he was talking about. I'm not getting in the middle of that," Bucky said, laughing.

Steve laughed too. "That's probably a wise choice."

"Why don't you go with them?" Bucky said.

"Dress shopping?" Steve asked, sounding surprised.

"Peggy's with them," Bucky said slowly.

Steve shook his head gently. "Buck -"

"Come on, man!" Bucky interrupted. Just one time Bucky wanted Steve to get the girl. He deserved it. Peggy was good for him. He deserved someone who had loved him before he was Captain America, just as he had. "For years I tried to get you to take out one of the girls in school or in the neighborhood or at work. You didn't want to. Fine. You didn't like any of them. But you like Peggy. She likes you too."

Steve let out a soft breath and shook his head. "Vic tell you that?"

Bucky smiled and shook his head. Anyone with eyes could see that the two of them cared about each other. "She didn't have to," Bucky said. Steve stared at him. "At least ask her for a dance while we're there."

It was a long moment before Steve started nodding. "I'll ask her for a dance if you call Jessica back."

Bucky stared at his best friend as a lump formed in his throat. He loved his sister to death. But he wouldn't tolerate the way she had spoken to Vika. "Steve -"

"What if she's not just calling to try and convince you not to marry Vic again?" Steve interrupted. Bucky let out a deep breath. They hated her and Bucky didn't want to hear it anymore. He hated listening to all of the negative things that were floating around about her. "What if this time she's calling because she wants to try and talk things out?"

"You should have heard them, Steve. The way they were talking about her... it was like they'd never been her family," Bucky said sadly, shaking his head.

He wanted them to love each other. He didn't understand why they couldn't. They had once been her family. Until they couldn't understand her. Steve let out a deep breath and reached out to place his hand on Bucky's shoulder. "They don't know her the way she really is. She scares them," Steve attempted to reason.

"She scares me sometimes too," Bucky admitted. Steve laughed quietly. "But I love her. I thought they would too."

In a perfect world, they would all understand each other. But the world was far from perfect. "I think they were quick to react. Maybe well before they should have. I know you love her. I know that you want everyone else to love her, but you know what she said," Steve responded quietly. "The mutants won't ever be accepted. Once people know who they are, relationships start changing."

But it didn't have to be that way. The mutants were perfectly capable of living alongside the rest of them. They had already proven that. "God, it's all so unfair," Bucky groaned, running his hands through his hair.

Steve nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But something tells me that Vic's okay. She's got a good life," Steve said, patting his best friend lovingly on the shoulder. "She's perfectly happy here."

"I think she wants to stay. In London," Bucky said quietly.

"She does. She can't go back home," Steve agreed.

Even if Vika could go back to New York, Bucky doubted she would ever want to. It had never really been her home. It had just been the place that she was born. "Howard found a place for us," Bucky told his friend. It was the first time that he'd admitted to someone other than Vika that they had a home picked out. Steve smiled. "It's a lot of land. Somewhere pretty private where no one would be around to bother us."

Steve's smile widened. "Sounds peaceful. Vic will like that."

"I hope so. What about you, big guy?" Bucky asked, patting his best friend on the chest. "What are you planning on doing once Hydra's defeated and the war is over?"

Steve's face flickered. Obviously, he hadn't thought about it much. He was silent for a few moments. Eventually, he admitted it. "I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I don't know if I can just go back to New York now." Bucky arched a brow. He had always thought that Steve belonged in New York. "I don't know if I even remember how to have a normal life."

It was a sentiment that Bucky agreed with. "Yeah, I get that," Bucky said, chuckling gently. Vika had certainly changed his opinion on a normal life. "What if you stayed here? Vika would love if you stayed." He hesitated a moment. "So would I."

Steve smiled gently. "I've thought about staying, actually. Especially since it kind of seems like everyone else is."

Bucky honestly wasn't sure if any of them were really planning on returning home after the fight against Hydra was won. "It's strange but this place has kind of become home. I know that Vika loves it here. All of her friends are here. We can't go back to New York. I've kind of grown to like it here. I want to stay," Bucky explained. He debated on stopping there but ultimately decided to throw in the one thing that might have genuinely convinced Steve to stay. "I'd be willing to bet that Peggy would like you to stay too."

Steve rolled his eyes. "You've been talking to Vic too much."

Bucky laughed. Unfortunately, Vika was very good at getting Bucky to see things her way. "You should know that you'll never hear the end of it," Bucky said.

Steve let out a deep breath and nodded. "Trust me, I know. I'll think about it," Steve said. They both smiled. "But I don't have a place to stay."

"Stay with us," Bucky offered immediately without really thinking about it. He knew that Vika wouldn't mind. In fact, she would love it. "There's a lot of space out there."

"You've seen it?" Steve asked curiously.

Bucky nodded. "Yeah. Howard picked it out and let me see it," Bucky explained. He couldn't even begin to think of how expensive the land was. But Howard had insisted that it was nothing. "It's beautiful. The kind of place I think she's always wanted to live."

"Good," Steve said, smiling brightly. "She deserves to be happy."

"We all do," Bucky said. They both smiled and nodded at each other. For the first time in their lives, both men were completely happy. They stood around chatting for a few minutes before Bucky looked at the clock. It was already mid-afternoon. "I promised Howard that we would wear tuxedos to the gala. While Vika probably wouldn't care either way I don't think we want to embarrass Howard."

Steve shook his head in agreement. "No. You know that if we embarrassed him, he'd turn it right back around on you and say something you definitely don't want Colonel Phillips hearing," Steve pointed out.

Bucky's face drained of color. "Not him. I'd like to stay alive."

Steve turned to the door before briefly turning back to Bucky. "Remember that if you ever think about confiding in me about that," he said.

Bucky groaned and threw his head back. "I wish you two didn't know each other."

Both men laughed as they left the room and headed to find the rest of the men. The truth was that Bucky could only really say so much about his relationship with Vika before either she or Steve would cut him off. As much as he wanted to be able to confide is Steve about what was going on in every aspect of his life, he knew that certain things that happened with Vika could never be repeated. Steve wouldn't want to hear it. And Bucky wasn't really sure he could tell Steve about them without getting embarrassed himself. Or murdered by his fiancee...

Victoria's P.O.V.

When I finally returned to the base later that night I had a rather large garment bag in my hands. It was the dress that I would wear for the gala. Far too expensive for my tastes but Howard was sure to pay for it - which he had actually done while I wasn't paying attention so I couldn't stop him. Both he and Peggy had agreed that it would be beautiful, which I did agree with. Howard was currently returning his car to the hangar it usually sat in. Peggy was walking back to the rooms with me. It was later than we had expected. Just past dinner, which we had eaten while we were out.

"Do you want me to keep the dress for you?" Peggy offered as we made our way to our rooms.

I started laughing quietly. "You know that half of my things are still in your room," I told her. It was true. I had never really gotten around to moving all of my things when I knew that we would eventually be moving into our own home. Peggy shrugged. "You don't need to keep this."

Peggy shrugged again. "I'm the only person in a two-person room. I think you're running out of room in your new one," she teased. I laughed and nodded my agreement. We really didn't have much room left in the room I shared with Bucky. "I don't mind hanging onto it."

"Thanks," I said, handing the bag off to her.

"Are you alright?" Peggy asked suspiciously, probably noticing my abnormally quiet nature.

"A little nervous," I admitted.

"About the gala?" Peggy asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

She reached out and stopped me from moving any further. "Because of what Howard was saying. We're all going to be there but he'll be inviting so many other people. Foreign leaders and massive corporate owners. Powerful people," I said. Peggy raised her brow, unsure of where I was going with this. "People who are all desperate to keep me in the shadows and pretend people like me aren't real. Just a nightmare."

It wasn't so much that I was afraid of them - I wasn't. It was the simple fact that I was annoyed at having to be in the same room with them and act decently. "You're the one being honored. I wouldn't worry too much about people speaking out against you," Peggy said.

"Yeah. I guess," I muttered.

"How about something a little happier?" Peggy chirped, grabbing my arm. I glanced over at her and raised a brow. What was she suddenly so happy about? "Are you ready for your wedding?"

Despite myself, a small smile formed over my lips. It was now mere months away. Something I never thought that I'd be able to say. "Yeah. I've never been so excited about something, Pegs," I said, grabbing her hand. She smiled brightly. "I never thought I'd get married. Especially not to my best friend. To someone I'd always had a crush on but I'd never thought would give me the time of day. To Bucky."

"You're the only person who could have ever made him happy," Peggy said, smiling down at me. "You know that."

"I didn't before. I do now," I said.

Peggy smiled again, pulling me along with her and throwing her head back toward the ceiling. "I wish everyone could find a romance like yours," she sighed.

"Meaning yourself?" I asked, looking at her curiously.

Peggy shrugged. "I suppose."

If anyone deserved the perfect romance, it was Peggy. I was sure that she would find it and find it soon. "You'll find one," I told her honestly. At the same moment, I glanced up and noticed Bucky and Steve walking up to us. The rest of the men and Howard trailed not far behind. A grin spread over my face. "In fact... there's a potential one right over there."

Peggy turned back and looked at them as well. "Stop it," Peggy hissed, whacking me on the shoulder.

"One day, Peggy Carter. One day," I told her quietly.

It was my goal. Getting Peggy and Steve together. It would eventually work out. I knew that. "Let's get you through your wedding before we focus on me, shall we?" Peggy offered, trying to ignore Steve's obvious stare.

"Whatever," I huffed.

We both laughed as I reached up and threw an arm around Peggy. She laughed with me, letting me drag her behind me back toward the guys. She quickly fell into step with Steve and I released her, allowing the two of them to have their conversation. I watched from behind them for a moment, grinning broadly and giggling knowingly. They both had it bad. Bucky broke himself out of his conversation with Dum Dum and Jim to come up to my side. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into a kiss, which the guys hooted and howled at. I raised a middle finger to them, earning a good deal of laughter.

Our large party walked off toward the tavern together. It had quickly become the place that we always went to. The men spent much of the walk harassing me about what I would wear to the gala. It took a shock to the ass to keep Jim from saying that Bucky would prefer me wearing nothing. It earned a great deal of laughter from everyone else. We all got a good kick out of watching Peggy and Steve laugh together, completely disengaged from the rest of our conversations. They barely even noticed us teasing them as they chatted away quietly.

It was tough getting the rest of the men to eventually move to a different table and let the two of them have their time together. As the rest of us moved to a different table, I was eventually pulled up from my chair by Bucky. We moved over to the bar for a little while. He had a tight grip on me as we walked and I smiled up at him. My hand was pressed against his stomach where I realized he had a large amount of muscle. More than I was actually expecting him to have. I almost commented on it but decided to just let it go.

"What did you guys do today?" I asked curiously.

"None of your business," Bucky said playfully.

"Ah. Keeping secrets, are we?" I asked him teasingly. We both smiled at each other as Bucky started laughing. But my grin quickly faded as a smirk turned up on my mouth. "Oh... wait."

There was absolutely no way that Bucky would ever be able to keep a secret from me. His face fell as he reached up and gently shoved my face away from him. I laughed as I leaned back down and tucked my head against his chest, still laughing. "We all went out and got tuxedos for the gala. Figured that Howard would have a fit if we came in our uniforms," Bucky finally answered.

"I like the uniform," I said argumentatively.

Bucky grinned. "Do you want to go to the gala?"

"No," I said honestly. The last thing I wanted to do was go to some pompous event full of people who hated me. "But it's important to Howard that we all go and he's important to me. If this is something he wants it's something I'll get over and do."

"He'll appreciate it."

"I know."

"Let's dance," Bucky said.

"I hate dancing," I snapped.

"I know," Bucky repeated.

He knew. He just didn't care. We both laughed as Bucky walked up to the pianist and requested a song quickly before returning to me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out onto the floor. I smiled up at him, immediately clasping my hands with his. I hated dancing, but if there was one person that I would dance with, it would always be Bucky. He was the only person that I would ever really want to dance with. It took the pianist a few moments to strike up the music. I immediately recognized the song. It was an old one. I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me.

The gentle music floated through the bar, quieting the conversations that had been going on. The men, along with Steve and Peggy, looking up and smiled at us, raising their glasses. But I quickly turned back to Bucky and glanced up at him, knowing that he had picked the song for a very good reason. It was pointed. It was our feelings toward each other. Neither one of us believed that the other could have fallen for them. We gently rocked together as I laid my head on his chest. I could just see our friends smiling at us from over Bucky's shoulder.

His hands gently ran through my hair as my skin began glowing golden. I had never been so happy to be with someone. I knew that he was the love of my life. No one would have ever been able to compare to him. His heart beat softly as his finger moved over the small diamond on my finger. His lips softly moved against my temple. I smiled as I tucked my mouth in against his shoulder. His hand wound back up to wrap the strands of hair around his fingers as I smiled up at him. Steve was in the background watching and he shot me a brief wink, making me laugh.

When I finally looked back up at Bucky I noticed that he was looking intensely down at me. So much so that it almost startled me. "What?" I asked worriedly.

Bucky startled himself from his reverie and shook his head. "Nothing. I just... I can't wait for the wedding," he said, tightening his grip around my waist.

"Me either," I said happily.

We smiled at each other again as we fell back into the pattern of the dance. Bucky kept a tight grip on me, seemingly unwilling to let up his grip. And I never wanted him to. This was where I wanted to be. The other men eventually got to take their turns dancing with me - some proper like Jacques and others goofy like Dum Dum. I spent some time at the bar with Howard and laughing away with Peggy. Drinking with Gabe and throwing darts with Jim and James. Spinning around the dance floor with Steve. But I seemed to always end up back in Bucky's arms, right where I belonged.

It was well into the early hours of the next morning that we all finally limped back to the base. Steve and I were just about the only ones who remained unaffected by the late hours or the liquor. When we finally stumbled back into our bedroom (more having been shoved inside by a drunk Howard and Dum Dum) the two of us almost immediately fell into bed, barely even remembering that we were supposed to be awake in a few hours. In fact, we didn't leave the room until the following night - desperately avoiding the knowing looks of the men.

It was a few weeks later that I found myself down in the labs again. It was a rare moment that I was alone, enjoying a few moments of peace. Not even Howard was around to bother me. He was busy getting the gala ready. It would be starting in just a few hours. I was nervous and attempting to do anything to keep my mind off of it. It was something that had continued to bother me over the past few weeks. I wasn't looking forward to having to sit in a room full of people who hated me. I would know, even without them saying it out loud.

Howard knew that I was nervous and he had tried to do anything he could to keep me calm. Bucky had offered to go on a walk with me this morning but I had quickly told him that I wanted to be alone. I wanted to try and do whatever it took to keep my mind off of it. So, I was sitting in the labs, not even sure what I was doing. Messing around with my Chronicle for the most part. Draining it from my body and watching it in the vials. Bucky and the rest of the guys were off getting ready as was Peggy. Since I moved at light speed, it wouldn't take me long to get ready.

Everyone had offered to go out to breakfast and lunch but I had denied it. I knew why. Not just to make me feel better about the gala tonight but also the fact that tonight was my birthday. They all wanted me to have a good time for it but I had rebutted doing anything more than we already were. I had made it a point to tell them that I wasn't big on birthdays. Particularly seeing as I was going to have an infinite amount of them. The boys didn't seem convinced that they should do nothing but eventually, Bucky and Steve had managed to convince them to leave it alone.

"Sergeant Phillips?" Horace called, shattering my thoughts.

I looked up and forced a smile on my face. "Hi, Horace. Everything okay?"

"There's someone on the phone for you, ma'am," Horace said.

It was rare for me to get a phone call. "Oh, thanks," I said, hopping up from my seat at the desk. As I passed, I laid a hand on his shoulder. "Seriously, enough with the proper titles. You know me. You can call me Victoria."

Horace smiled. "Thank you."

"Did they say who was on the phone for me?" I asked as we wandered down the hallway toward my office.

"Jessica Wilson."

"Wilson?" I asked dumbly.

Who the hell was Jessica Wilson? I didn't know who that was. But as the two of us wandered down the hallway back over toward my office - which sat in the far corner of the entrance hall - I finally realized that I knew exactly who Jessica Wilson was. It was Jessica Barnes. Bucky's sister. She was using her married name - maybe hoping that no one would ignore her call this time if they didn't recognize the name. But I had stopped long enough to wonder why Jessica was asking to speak to me. Did Horace mistake her request?

"Horace," I called, stopping him in his tracks. He turned back and nodded respectfully at me. "Are you sure that Jessica is asking for me? You're sure that she wasn't asking for Bucky?"

Horace shook his head. "She specifically asked for you," Horace told me. I nodded at him, staring at the telephone in the far corner of the room, almost as if waiting for it to make the first move. "Would you like me to tell her to call back?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Let's see what she wants."

Maybe it was better that I answered the phone rather than Bucky. His relationship with his family was strained enough. I didn't need another phone call to make things worse. I walked over to the telephone and threw back my head to silently tell Horace to leave. He did so without question and closed the door gently behind himself. I held my hand over the phone for a moment before finally picking up the receiver and clicking over to the blinking line. Immediately I was met with the sound of gentle breathing in the background accompanied by the sounds of a small child chirping away happily.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. Hello didn't feel quite right. Neither did a threat. So, I went for the only thing I could force out. "If you're calling to tell me that you hate me, get in line," I told her tonelessly.

There was a brief spike in her blood pressure that I was tracking. "Victoria," Jessica's voice breathed, sounding almost relieved.

"Mommy!" a little girl's voice shouted.

Her daughter, by the sounds of it. "One second, baby," Jessica told the young girl, her voice becoming briefly muffled as she shushed her.

"That's your daughter?" I asked once it sounded like Jessica was back.

"Yes. My daughter. Her name is Winnie. She's two," Jessica explained, her voice adopting a tone full of pride. So much so that I almost smiled. But what if she had been like me? A mutant? Would she have been proud of her if that were the case? "She's a sweet little girl, if not a little troublesome sometimes."

"I think they usually are," I responded blankly.

"That's true," Jessica agreed.

We remained in silence for so long that it became almost comical. But I was sick of it. There were other things I could have been concerned about at the moment. Not her feelings toward me. "Is there a reason that we're making this very awkward phone call?" I snapped.

Her voice shook awkwardly for a moment as she attempted to gather herself. "I wanted to talk to you about your wedding and what I - what we all said to you when we were in London," she finally admitted.

"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath and preparing myself for whatever it was that she was about to say. "Do your worst."

It was easy enough to hear Jessica swallow thickly. "It's not about that. Not exactly, I mean. Victoria... I just needed to say something to you," Jessica said awkwardly. I nodded for her to continue, despite knowing that she couldn't see me. "I've done a lot of thinking since I got home. More than I've done in a long time. But it was something that I needed to do. I needed to realize that what I said to you was completely uncalled for."

Now her last comment definitely threw me. Something that very rarely happened. Usually, I saw everything coming. I hadn't seen that one. I thought that Jessica would be calling me, completely furious with what me over what had happened to Bucky. But now it seemed that she was ready to apologize to me for what had happened between us a few months ago. I almost couldn't believe it. It almost managed to make me smile. But I still wondered if she was calling for something else. Not just an apology. After all, I always believed the worst in everyone.

But Jessica was, like as not, family. So, I tried to take her at her word. "I appreciate that, Jessica. Honestly, I do," I said as earnestly as possible.

"I'm sorry for what I said," Jessica said weakly. It took me a moment to realize that her voice was breaking as she spoke. "All I've ever wanted is for Bucky to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted for all of my siblings. I guess that I imagined his happiness differently than he did. I wanted him to have what I wanted. A nice, normal family. A wife who was always home with a few kids and dinner ready. A husband who had a good job in an office. A house with the white picket fence. The truth is, that's not what he ever wanted. And I think you're part of the reason.

"When the two of you met, you changed his idea of what a woman could be. You were smarter than anyone else we'd ever met. And you were so tough. You didn't need a man to fight for you. You were strong enough to fight for yourself. He had fallen in love with you long before he had ever realized what you were. When he found out... it didn't matter to him. He's always been one of the most understanding people I knew. He understood what you were and understood how you were so different. I should have understood it too.

"My daughter... She helped change things for me. When I had her, I knew that it never would have mattered what happened to her. I would die for her. As soon as I got home and I looked at her, I wondered what it would have been like if she was born like you. That's when I knew that I'd made a huge mistake. You scare me. What you can do scares me. But I don't hate you. Fear and hatred go hand-in-hand and I mistook them. The truth is, I don't have to love what you are or what you've done. But I do need to respect what my brother wants to do with his life. Not mine. His."

By the end, it was very evident that Jessica was crying. It had been almost impossible for her to make it through her speech. Her blood pressure was spiking through the roof. But I was glad that I wasn't with her. I wouldn't have known what to do. I couldn't hug her. Maybe I was still bitter about what she'd said. Or maybe it was because I just didn't like touching people I didn't care for that deeply. I knew that it was taking me too long to respond to her but I didn't know where to go from there. I couldn't force the words out of my throat.

It would have been a good moment to accept her apology. But I couldn't. The words were too jumbled in my head. I tried to straighten them out but I couldn't. Thankfully, Jessica didn't speak. She allowed me to process my thoughts in my head. I was almost fascinated by the way she was speaking. By the way her daughter had changed her. I had never thought that any of Bucky's siblings would manage to feel this way about me. I had thought that they would always hate me. But apparently, one of them still cared for me. The question was, did the rest?

"Are you the only one of your siblings that feels that way?" I finally asked her.

"No," Jessica said, almost surprising me. None of them had seemed willing to listen to reason the last time we'd spoken. "Rebecca and Justin aren't really thrilled with what you've done but they do feel terrible for the way they've treated you."

"Guilt. It's a powerful thing," I said.

Jessica laughed humorlessly. "So I've discovered."

If she was going to make the effort, I supposed that it was my turn. I couldn't hold in the hatred forever. "Listen when I tell you that I'm not proud of everything I've done. But I was so low, so devastated, that I didn't think of the repercussions. I was angry. I still am," I told her honestly. "But when I'm with your brother, some of that anger begins to ebb."

The smile in Jessica's voice was evident. "He makes you happy."

"Very much so," I admitted.

"It's dangerous out there," Jessica said.

She was trying to warn me off of continuing my ways. But I never would. I loved Bucky and I wanted to protect him. But I would never truly change. I was a mutant. Mutant and proud. "Yes, it is. You know that. What we're doing is more dangerous than anything else he could be doing," I admitted. Jessica sucked in a nervous breath. "But you should be proud of him."

"I am," Jessica said immediately.

"And you should know that I'm watching out for him. Nothing will ever happen to him while I'm around," I said fiercely.

No one would ever hurt Bucky while I was alive. I would kill them before they laid a hand on him. "I believe you and I trust you. I trust that you'll never do anything to hurt him," Jessica said.

"I won't," I said.

We were both silent for a moment before Jessica began chuckling under her breath. I raised a brow, wondering what she was laughing at. "He's so happy to be with you. This is all he's ever wanted. You're all he's ever wanted," Jessica said. I smiled at the telephone. It had taken me far too long to realize that he was also the only one I'd ever wanted. "If that's what makes him happy I'll get behind it."

"You still don't like what I do," I pointed out.

Jessica chuckled softly. "Admittedly you still make me nervous." I hummed softly. I was pretty sure that I made everyone nervous. "But I think I overreacted. I think we all did," Jessica said quietly. I hummed again. "It took me until I was back home to remember who you used to be when we were kids. To remember that you were still her."

"I'm not exactly still her. I'm different now," I answered quietly.

"But one thing's still the same. You two love each other," Jessica pointed out.

"That's true," I said.

We were silent for a little while before Jessica spoke again. "Victoria, I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead," I said curiously.

Jessica took a deep breath before speaking. "When we were talking, Bucky very understandably got upset with me. With all of us. Just like he deserved to be. The last thing he said to me was not to worry about coming to the wedding."

"He told me that," I said.

It was something that I hadn't wanted him to do then but I had listened to his wishes. "He didn't get to come to my wedding because he was too busy with school at the time. He didn't get to go to Rebecca's because he was deployed. Chances are, with things the way they are, he won't get to come to Justin's wedding," Jessica explained.

I arched a brow. Last I'd heard, Justin was only dating the girl he was with. "Did he propose to his girlfriend?" I asked curiously.

"He did. He wanted to call Bucky and tell him but he wouldn't take his call."

"I'll tell him."

"Thank you. And I - I know it's not my place to ask this but -"

She didn't need to say it. I knew what she wanted. And I wanted it too. "Come to the wedding," I interrupted. Jessica stuttered for a moment. "Please. Bucky won't say it but he genuinely wants you there. I would like you to be there too."

"Really?" Jessica asked hopefully.

"Of course," I told her.

"Thank you."

"Thank you for calling. We'll give you a call in a few months and let you know exactly how we're doing things."

"Perfect. Tell Bucky I love him. We all do."

"I'll let him know. And I'll make sure he gives you a call."

"Thank you. Victoria?"

"Yeah."

"Happy birthday," Jessica said.

For the first time in the conversation, a genuine smile appeared on my face. "Thank you, Jessica. For the call, for coming to the wedding, and for the birthday wishes," I told her. It was relieving to finally have someone understand. Not necessarily love what I did, but at least understand that this was who I was. "Bucky will be thrilled to know that you still want to come."

"I'm really happy that you were so forgiving," Jessica said.

"That tends to surprise people," I told her. We both laughed quietly. I was a forgiving person, as long as that other someone was deserving of my forgiveness. We sat in silence for a few moments before I spoke again. "We're having a gala tonight that I really need to start getting ready for. I'm already running late and Howard will try and kill me if I'm still wearing my lab clothes at his expensive event."

Jessica started laughing. It was a strange sound. I couldn't remember the last time I'd heard someone outside of the base laugh at something I'd said like that. "There's something I never thought I'd hear," Jessica said. I hummed curiously at her. "Victoria Davies getting ready to go to some fancy event in a ball gown."

"Imagine. In a few months, you'll see me in a wedding dress," I teased.

Jessica giggled again. "You'll look beautiful," she said gently.

"Thank you, Jess. We'll talk soon, alright?"

"Absolutely. Enjoy your gala."

"Thanks, Jess. Say hi to Winnie for me," I told her.

Not that I liked kids, but it was worth it for me to make the effort. "Of course," Jessica said.

"Bye."

"Bye, Vic."

It was startling. It had been so long since I'd heard someone outside of my tight-knit family say something like that to me. I stood there for a moment before hearing the click on the other end of the line. I smiled at myself as I started at the now-dead line. Things might have really been looking up for me. I couldn't imagine that things were finally going right in my life for once, but it seemed that they were. Things were finally starting to look up. I finally hung up the phone and walked off, heading off to get ready for the evening, feeling happier than I had in a long time.

Bucky's P.O.V.

Just past eight o'clock the night of Howard's gala - and Vika's twenty-fourth birthday - Bucky and the rest of the men approached the hall for the gala. It was at a monstrous hall not far from the army base. Howard had mentioned to the boys that he and Vika would be arriving with Chester and Peggy a little later in the evening. He and the rest of the men were let off out front of the hall that appeared to have been a museum at some point. It was a massive building that already appeared to be overflowing with well-dressed and wealthy-looking people.

"Whoa," Dum Dum gasped as they stepped out of their limousine, echoing Bucky's thoughts.

"Holy -"

"Do you see how many people are here?" James interrupted Jim.

"That's Charles de Gaulle," Jacques gasped.

"Who?" Gabe asked.

Bucky was glad that Vika wasn't here, as he didn't know who Charles de Gaulle was either. She definitely would have rolled her eyes at them all. To be fair, though, so did Jacques. "The President of France," he explained.

"Howard wasn't kidding when he said the rich and powerful would be here," Steve gasped.

"Is that -?"

"Roosevelt is here," Steve interrupted Jim.

Bucky's head snapped around so fast that he nearly gave himself whiplash. "What?"

"President Roosevelt is here," Steve repeated. "He's right over there."

Bucky followed Steve's hand. He was right. Roosevelt was sitting in his wheelchair near the entrance of the gala with his wife. "What would Howard have invited him over here for?" Bucky asked irritably.

Howard was one of Vika's best friends. What the hell had he invited the man who wanted her dead for? "It might not have been Howard who invited him," Gabe pointed out. They all turned to look at him. "This thing might be hosted by Howard but he mentioned that there were certain people they had to invite. I wonder if he was one of them."

"That's the only thing that makes sense," Steve admitted.

"He's coming over here," Jacques said, looking to the ground.

"Shit," Bucky swore.

"Sergeant Barnes," Roosevelt greeted, pushing himself in front of them. The men stepped back slightly to allow Roosevelt to come to a stop in front of him. "Gentlemen."

The men all nodded respectfully and smiled tersely at the president. Bucky cleared his throat, trying to remind himself not to say anything too horrible. "President Roosevelt. Good evening," Bucky greeted.

Roosevelt looked around their circle of people. "Where is your fiance?"

"On her way. She'll be here soon," Bucky said. Roosevelt nodded. "If you'll excuse us."

"Of course," Roosevelt said irritably.

Steve laid a hand on Bucky's very tense shoulders. "Relax, Buck. He can't do anything out here. Vic is safe," Steve pointed out. Bucky knew that it was the truth and that Vika was strong enough to protect herself, but Bucky hated it. He wanted to protect her from the world. "Come on. Let's get a drink."

"Or ten," Bucky joked.

In all honesty, he was completely serious. He really could have used ten drinks. But Howard would have killed him for being drunk at his fancy gala. All of the men laughed as they walked off toward the bar. They spent a good while drinking and talking with each other. Bucky was only half paying attention. He was mostly watching Roosevelt out of the corner of his eyes. He was worried about how Vika would feel about it once she arrived. Chances were that she actually already knew. But he didn't want her to be hurt at a place that was supposed to be honoring her. And on her birthday.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much that he could do. No one would ask President Roosevelt to leave. So, Bucky stood near the entrance of the hall in a dark tuxedo. He looked like a proper gentleman. At the moment, he was simply waiting for his fiance to arrive. And he knew exactly when it happened. There was a sudden hush that fell over the room. Bucky turned and nearly dropped his glass tumbler to the floor. He managed to grab it but did spill some vodka on himself. He wasn't the only one to be stunned at the person standing at the top of the staircase. At her sides were Chester and Howard. Peggy was just behind her. Steve, at Bucky's side, sucked in a deep breath. But Bucky didn't care about them.

The only thing he cared about was the woman standing at the top of the staircase. His fiance. She was wearing a dress that appeared to be a thirties-style gown. It was a simple white silk that drooped down her frame. The neckline dipped slightly with tiny straps made from crystals. The dress flowed gently to the floor. She wore a slight heel on her feet. There was a diamond necklace on her frame, a pair of studs in her ears, and a diamond bracelet on her wrist. Her engagement ring sat on her finger. But that wasn't what caught his attention.

All of those things could be and would be eventually removed. It was what was really her. Everyone in the building was staring at her. Not because she was a mutant but because she was finally embracing who she was. Her eyes were glowing a brilliant gold. The radiation in her veins was sitting right at the surface, revealing the lacework-like pattern over her skin, looking almost like a living tattoo. Even with no wind in the building, her hair was floating in gentle waves around her shoulders, looking like it might have been on fire slightly. Her entire being radiated power.

Vika slowly descended the staircase, smiling gently at the crowd in front of her. They were all watching her. But she clearly couldn't have cared less about them. She stopped at the base of the staircase and pressed a quick kiss against Chester's and Howard's cheeks. As she walked forward she smiled at the men she passed and smiled again at Steve. He grabbed her gently around the waist and pressed a kiss against her cheek. Bucky smiled at the familial love in their eyes. When Steve finally released her, she walked straight to Bucky. He greeted her with his arm held out.

Vika smiled at him. It was at that moment that he realized that the flames in her eyes were shifting. Just like after her connection to the Soul Stone. But this time she was controlling it. "You look... incredible," Bucky said dumbly.

She smiled gently. "You like the dress?"

Bucky wouldn't have dared say what he really wanted to say in public with her adoptive father mere feet away. "The dress is nice. But it's not the dress. It's you... looking like this," Bucky said honestly.

"Like what?" she asked curiously.

"Like a god - goddess," Bucky said moronically.

The smile turned up on her lips slightly as she let out a small laugh. "This is me. This is what I really am," Vika said, extending her arms. The glow of the radiation followed her. "And I'm not hiding it anymore. People can take me or leave me."

"Well, I take you," Bucky said, meaning it in every sense of the word. Vika smiled at him. "Care for a dance?"

"Not really," she said honestly.

Bucky smiled at her. "Come on," he said, offering her his hand. "How often do you get a chance to dance with such a handsome man?"

Her lips turned up in a chipper laugh as she smiled up at him. Her eyes twinkled slightly, looking almost like lava. But grinned as she took his hand. But her smile quickly faded as she glanced away and caught sight of something that evidently upset her. "Is that Roosevelt?" she snarled.

"Yes," Bucky answered her guiltily. "We just saw him."

"Did he say anything to you?" she asked sharply.

Bucky hesitated for a moment before deciding to just nod. "He did." She narrowed her eyes, essentially asking him what Roosevelt had said to him. "He asked where you were."

"Right where I want to be," she responded, laying a hand on his chest.

"Come on," Bucky told her quietly.

Standing there and staring at Roosevelt would only upset her and that was the last thing Bucky wanted to do. He reached over and wrapped his arm around Vika's back - which was mostly bare from the drooping back of her dress. Vika smiled up at him as they walked off. Her entire body was warmer than he recalled it ever being. It almost felt like she was on fire, which he supposed she kind of was. Her hair floated gently in waves behind them as he walked them out onto the dance floor. Some people backed away but she said nothing about her. Vika simply kept her eyes fixated on his.

It took mere seconds for the gentle harp music in the background to switch over to a slow piano ballad. It picked up as more and more couples chose to take their dances. Vika smiled up at Bucky as he wrapped an arm around her waist and gently pulled her into a dance. The two of them spun around and around and swirled back and forth over the dance floor. It was one of those moments that Bucky wished would never end. He leaned down and pressed a small kiss against her mouth before leaning back up. He continued to stare at her even after they had broken apart, something in between a smile and dumb stare on his face.

Eventually, it appeared that it started to concern her. "What? What is it?" she asked worriedly.

Bucky shook his head, finally startled out of his trance. "Nothing. I'm just... I'm really happy," he admitted.

She smiled back. "I can tell."

"How?" Bucky asked curiously.

She started laughing. "You don't want to know."

"Now you've made me curious," Bucky teased her.

Vika rolled her eyes slightly. Her cheeks were burning and Bucky had a good feeling that this time it was from embarrassment, not from her mutations. "Your body is releasing endorphins," Vika explained. Bucky stared at her blankly. "It's the human hormone most commonly associated with happiness. I can smell it."

Bucky stared at her for a long time as she waited for his response. "It's almost like being married to a lion," he teased.

They both started laughing again, Vika smiling at the floor happily. It might have been a little odd, but he didn't mind. He almost found it funny. Bucky smiled down at her, brushing her hair back off of her forehead. It was hot to the touch but he didn't release her. "Someone called me this morning," Vika eventually said, changing the subject.

"Who?" Bucky asked.

"Jessica."

His smile faded a little as nerves built in his stomach. Had his sister really called to harass her again? "What did she say to you?" Bucky asked her sharply.

Vika shrugged. "Told me that Justin was engaged, for one." Bucky couldn't help the wide grin that spread over his face. His little brother was engaged... He deserved it. Vika smiled back at him. "She wanted you to know. That's not it," Vika continued. Bucky nodded for her to tell him. The conversation sounded civil so far. "She apologized. She said that she was too busy thinking about what she wanted for you to realize that it didn't matter. You had what you wanted. She wanted to call you but you wouldn't take her call."

Bucky's hand was so tight over hers that he knew it would have hurt a normal person. He simply couldn't believe that his siblings had so suddenly changed their minds. "I didn't know she felt that bad," Bucky admitted quietly.

"She felt terrible," Vika said.

But could he forgive his sister? He genuinely wasn't sure. "Do you forgive her?" Bucky asked her curiously.

Much to his surprise, Vika started nodding. "Believe it or not I don't hold grudges against people. At least, I try not to. Not when I know that those people didn't know any better. She's looking out for you. I knew that when she said it. I'm okay. I forgive her," Vika said. Bucky almost laughed. That was a grudge he thought she'd hold forever. "It takes a lot to admit that you're wrong."

Every once in a while Vika genuinely surprised Bucky. This was one of those moments. "If you forgive her, so do I," he told her, running his thumb over the back of her hand.

She smiled up at him. "They're coming to the wedding. Your siblings," Vika said. It felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. All of his family were going to be together. "They asked if they could come."

"You said yes?" Bucky asked, shocked at her answer.

"You wanted them to come. They had to come," she said.

It seemed so strange. They had said such horrible things to her but she was still more than willing to have them attend the wedding. "Thank you for saying yes," Bucky said gratefully.

"They're your family," Vika pointed out.

"You're my family," Bucky replied.

Her gaze slowly turned up to meet his eyes as a gentle smile spread over her face. Bucky smiled back at her. His stomach lurched slightly as she pushed herself up onto her toes and pressed a small kiss against his mouth. Even that sent his heart soaring. He reached back and wrapped an arm tightly around her waist, pulling her up against him, where they remained together for a long time. The only thing that ultimately separated them was the cracking of wood. They pulled apart long enough to stare down at President Roosevelt. Bucky's arms tightened protectively over her waist.

Much to Bucky's surprise, a grin turned up on her mouth. What the hell was she planning? "I don't suppose you're coming to ask for a dance," Vika told Roosevelt, her voice abnormally airy.

Bucky almost had to shove his fist in his mouth to bite back a laugh. Roosevelt scowled at her. "No. Just coming to say hello."

"And?" Vika asked shortly.

Obviously, she wanted to know why he was interrupting their lovely dance. Roosevelt hummed as he wheeled himself around to look at the gala. "Congratulations. They all love you," Roosevelt told her, spinning back around to face them.

Another small smile turned up on her lips. This one wasn't so friendly. "No. Look around," she told him gently, motioning around to the men and women who were dancing around carelessly. Roosevelt looked as confused as Bucky felt. "They love their money and their own lives and not much else. We're greedy and irresponsible and stupid. That's what makes us human."

"But?" Roosevelt asked.

She didn't really think about people that way. Bucky knew that. "But every once in a while we surprise ourselves with just how selfless we can be," Vika continued. Bucky stared at her curiously as Vika reached down and took his hand, gently pulling him out toward the dance floor, barely giving Roosevelt a second glance. "Like so. Enjoy the party."

The two of them walked off, leaving Roosevelt in stunned silence. As they struck up their dance again, Bucky stared at Vika, who had a funny look on her face. "What?" Bucky asked her.

"You have that look on your face," she answered.

"What look?"

Her lips turned up in a smile. "That stupid look men get when they're falling in love."

Bucky grinned back at her. "I'm already in love. That stupid look is just my face."

He had said it because he knew it would make her smile. And it did just that. She started laughing, tucking her head down into his shoulder. He smiled down at her for a moment before glancing up over her head and catching Roosevelt's eyes. The president was scowling at them nastily. But Bucky didn't care. He was comfortable right here. He knew that what he was doing - being with her - was sure to destroy any chance of a normal life that he might ever have. But he didn't care. He was so happy to be with her. Whatever it took.

Victoria's P.O.V.

We could have been swaying together all night. It felt like it was hours before we were finally separated by the clinking of glass. It was the only thing that finally forced us to look up along with the rest of the occupants of the gala. I saw that Howard was standing perched up on the balcony a floor above the rest of us by himself holding a flute of champagne in his hands. Bucky and I took a step back from each other and walked over with the rest of the men, watching Howard from below. He was waiting a few moments for the room to silence itself.

"Good evening," Howard greeted, earning a scattered response. "Thank you all for coming. Every year I give a speech thanking all those who sacrifice their time and money to greater causes. Very rarely do I celebrate the people who sacrifice everything. It's high time that I do. Just over a year ago, these men here were captured by Hydra forces. James Montgomery Falsworth, Jim Morita, Dum Dum Dugan, Jacques Dernier, and Gabe Jones. The five of you put aside your differences and risked your own lives to help evacuate the nearly two hundred soldiers who had been captured by Hydra forces."

The audience began clapping for their fellow men as I followed suit. The men blushed and waved. "Colonel Chester Phillips. For so many things, we all owe you a great thanks. For gathering your best forces, for convincing the Army that the right thing to do was focus on the super soldier serum," Howard continued. There was more scattered clapping, my own being the loudest. "To Peggy Carter, for doing everything that she's always been told she can never do and for doing it better than the men."

There was a bit of scattered laughter and applause for her. I sent her a wink from across the hall. "To Steve Rogers. Captain America," Howard continued. I took his hand and shot a small smile at his direction. "The man who we would have never expected to become the world's first super soldier. You didn't have anything that it took. You weren't strong or intimidating. But you had a good heart. And you were willing to lose everything if it meant that there was a chance to do the right thing. There aren't many people out there like you. I wish we had more."

There was a lot of cheers for Steve, our group being the loudest. "To Sergeant James Barnes." The audience fell silent. I smiled at Howard. "For being able to see past the physical. For being able to see people for what they are truly worth. For protecting them even when they never believed that they deserved it. For being the kind of man that we should all aspire to be. For true kindness." I clapped happily for him as Bucky wrapped an arm around my waist. It took a while for Howard to continue. His voice was quieter this time. "And to all of those who couldn't be here today."

The room was silent for a moment before a gentle round of applause lit up the room. "And to one final person," Howard continued. The people who were beginning to chatter immediately silenced themselves. "Sergeant Victoria Phillips." I looked up to him and nodded. "A woman who was shown nothing but cruelty for most of her life just because she was different. I've said it for years, I like different. In fact, I love it. She is not what you'd think of when you think of a soldier. Not just because she's a woman. Not just because she's a mutant. For so many different reasons."

"She doesn't follow orders. She doesn't listen to those of a higher station. She keeps plans to herself. Because of that, many people are still alive today. She is perhaps the only person who's ever seen me as I really am. She sees us all as we really are. And despite everything that's happened to her, she still fights for us. I hope one day we can begin looking at her as she really is. Not a mutant. But a good person with a big heart. Sergeant Barnes." The audience turned and looked to Bucky. "Treat her well. I'd threaten you, but you're much more afraid of your fiancé."

This time the entire crowd erupted into laughter, much to my own surprise. I managed to push a small smile onto my face. It was only then that I noticed that my eyes were watering slightly. "I hope to help you in the future. I hope to help you all in the future. You all deserve it. In the meantime, enjoy the night. It's all for you. Clear the dance floor," Howard ordered. People slowly began stepping back to clear the dance floor for us. I took Bucky's hand gently. "Bucky and Victoria... this one's for you."

It left the two of us as the only people on the dance floor. The audience stepped back to watch us. For once, I heard no horrible thoughts. Their thoughts seemed almost loving. I smiled as the band struck up a new song. Howard had chosen to play 'Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?' I smiled at his choice as I tightened my hand on Bucky's and stepped into him. It took him mere seconds to lean down and press a lingering kiss against my temple as I rested my head on his shoulder, listening to his heart thumping steadily in his chest.

"You deserve the recognition," Bucky said quietly as the song hit its crescendo.

"I don't need it," I told him.

"Maybe. But you deserve it."

Did I really deserve it? Maybe. I had done some genuinely good things. But I had also done some extremely evil things. "It's just not something I'm used to," I admitted. No one had ever loved me before. No one outside of a very select few people. "The only thing I ever wanted was to have someone I really loved and vice versa. I just wanted to know love."

"Do you know it now?" Bucky asked.

I smiled at him. "Yes," I said honestly. It wasn't even in question. "More than I ever thought was possible."

Bucky smiled back at me. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth up against the corner of my temple. As he spoke, his lips ran against my skin, raising goosebumps. "Do you think Howard would notice if we snuck out a little early?" Bucky asked quietly.

A soft laugh escaped my mouth. I would have loved that but Howard would have said something (loudly) to Chester if we did. "Yes, and I think that I would never hear the end of it," I told Bucky seriously. He smiled at me. "You missed his lovely comment the other week."

"What was that?" Bucky asked seriously.

"He was saying that -"

But I never got a chance to finish. Our conversation was interrupted by the sharp screams that were coming from the far side of the gala hall. My head shot up at the sound. Bucky and I bounced apart from our dance as I shoved him behind me without thinking. Something was wrong. He couldn't be in the way. We both darted forward with Bucky behind me at a slight distance. A few seconds later when I got to the doors, I immediately saw what people had been screaming about. Dirty with torn clothes and blood all over him was Logan. My savior from Stryker's lab.

It felt like my brain had stopped working for a long moment. It was the very man who had once saved my life. He looked nothing like he had the last time I'd seen him. Unhinged would have been slightly too nice of a word for the way he looked right now. His clothes barely covered his torso and his pants were shredded - from running in the woods, I assumed. He was panting from exhaustion but it was his adamantium claws that were drawing the attention from those around us. That was what people were screaming about, standing in a circle around him.

My eyes quickly traced to the scar underneath his hairline. It was the only bit of his body that had a scar on it. It was the place where Stryker had shot him. That was what it all came down to. He had no idea who I was. And he was dangerous right now. I brought up a force field and shoved the audience back, knocking many of them flat onto their backs. Logan's eyes shot over to me. Something in them dawned - not quite recognition - as I raised my hands to him, hoping that I could remind him of who I was. Who we both were.

It was no time for me to be surprised. I just had to act. I had to keep the hundreds of people around us safe. "Relax. You're safe," I told Logan quietly. The audience stopped screaming long enough to listen. "Calm down."

But he didn't look ready to respond. He was angry. Gritting his teeth and running his adamantium claws against his legs. I went into his head as quickly as possible to try and sort through his memories or thoughts. It was almost immediately evident to me that he didn't have the slightest clue of what was going on. Not really, at least. He was on edge. Some part of him vaguely remembered me. He must have heard that I would be here tonight. How he had was another question. I just knew that he had come to confront me. I began slowly walking toward him, against the wishes of my friends.

Their voices were loud in my head, begging me to step back or just attack Logan. Most of them didn't even realize who he was. They believed that he was just some psychopath who had come to destroy the gala. I had to stop Logan quickly. Either by force or trying to calm him down. It would only be so long before the cops showed up to try and stop him. That would only end one way.

"Do you know me?" I asked Logan.

He ignored me. "What is this?" Logan growled.

My eyes followed his hands as I realized that he was holding his dog tags in his hand. "That's your nickname. Wolverine. You used the alias Logan. It's become your name," I explained. He looked doubtful. "Let me help you."

"I don't know you," Logan snarled.

"You do. We're friends. You saved my life once."

"No, I didn't."

"You did. You just don't remember. Let me help you," I begged.

If he didn't let me help him I didn't know what would happen. The cops would come and try to kill Logan. Logan would respond and kill them. Too many people would die. Logan would become a monster. I had to stop that. Logan was trembling from head to toe as I approached. Not from fear but from pent-up energy. He was confused and angry and prepared to take it out on me. He likely would. But I was ready for him to pounce. I approached Logan slowly while speaking directly into Bucky's mind to keep from scaring Logan off.

"Help Howard get these people out of here. Move them out slowly. I don't want to scare him," I told Bucky in his mind.

"Vika… please," Bucky begged. His voice - even in his mind - was shaking. "Don't go near him."

As afraid as Bucky was for me, I wasn't going to leave Logan to be hunted down. "He's my friend, Buck. I have to help him. He helped me once. He got me back to you," I reasoned.

"Please be careful," Bucky said, likely well-aware that I wouldn't bend on my decision to help Logan.

"I will be."

Like that, I broke the link in between our minds. Even without turning around I knew that Bucky was still watching me closely. I tried to ignore that and focus all of my energy on Logan. I very slowly approached my friend, hoping that I wasn't about to scare him off. I kept the force field raised protectively around the crowd as I noticed that people were slowly being evacuated from the building. Logan seemed to have noticed too. His claws were shuddering slightly. I assumed that he was debating whether or not to retract them completely.

His claws had just begun retracting back into his fist when an older woman shouted, "Just kill him!"

"No!" I yelled.

That was all it took. Logan's eyes completely dilated as he returned to his animalistic self. Any rational part of himself had completely fled. I knew that I had to react and I had to do that quickly. I stepped back to focus on the force field as Logan turned to meet eyes with the woman who had yelled to kill him. She was now crying. Logan sprinted up to the edge of the force field, slamming his claws into it. His impact felt like a punch to the gut as his claws just managed to break through the force field from the pressure. The screams only increased as people began sprinting from the building.

"Vika!" Bucky yelled.

"Vic!" Steve's voice joined his.

The other men were yelling too but I was too focused on something else. "Get them out of here!" I ordered the men to save the civilians. Logan whipped around, now furiously drawn to me. "You know me. I'll help you but you need to calm down."

It was far too late for that. But I was desperate. Logan was growling under his breath as I slowly approached him. He hadn't moved yet. But I could see the tenseness of his body. He was ready to spring. I knew that the best thing for me to do right now was to gently touch his temples and allow him to fall into a dreamless sleep so that I could get him somewhere safe. Somewhere far away from anyone who wanted to hurt him. But that also meant that I would have to get close to him - something that I was hoping would be easier than it looked.

"We're friends, Logan," I told him.

"I don't know you," Logan insisted.

I wanted him to know that it was okay. But his mind was a jumbled mess. I couldn't get through to him. He couldn't think of anything other than his burning desire to get to... me? To kill me? It was tough. It was like trying to read through the water. Everything was blurry. I slowly began advancing on Logan again. He was still breathing heavily. He was turned back to me, his claws out in front of himself. The audience had stopped long enough to watch. I rolled my eyes at them. They needed to leave so I could not worry about them. But they wouldn't. Meaning that I was essentially trapped with him in a cage.

Logan said nothing but he did scream. His guttural roar echoed through the building as he sprinted toward me. His adamantium claws went straight through my shoulder as he shoved me to the stone floor. Screams reared up around us as I grunted. Okay... I hadn't thought he'd actually attack me. I wrapped a hand around his shoulder and rolled him forward, throwing him to the ground as I flipped back upright. Logan hopped up and threw out his claw to my head. I deflected his first hit as he attempted to decapitate me with his other hand.

I barely caught his other arm before ducking down and swiping out his legs. He hit the ground but bounced back up instantaneously. He made swipe after swipe at me as he got closer and closer to me. It became immediately brutal. I had never been involved in a fight like this one before. Not with another mutant. Another person who healed easily. While Logan was clearly fighting to try and genuinely hurt me, I was just trying to keep him away from me. I didn't want to accidentally hurt him.

My focus flickered for a moment as I spotted Bucky and Steve wondering what to do now. Logan took that moment to run at me full speed. I was knocked clear off my feet as I lost my balance. Logan and I were thrown through my force field - which had dropped during my lapse of concentration - and straight into a window. Our momentum sent us through the glass pane and falling together straight onto the street. We fell down an entire story before hitting the cement pavement at full speed, each rolling to the opposite side of the road.

Much to my horror, we were now on the open street with hundreds of people standing around staring at us. All of those people I had ordered Howard and the others to evacuate were now back in danger's path. The people were standing far too close. They were enamored by what was happening now. None of them made a move. But they did start screaming, only furthering Logan's aggravation. He turned to the crowd, ready to attack. I knew that it wasn't about keeping him safe anymore. It was about keeping them safe.

Logan had rolled down the entry staircase to stand in front of the crowd. As Logan ran after a young woman with mascara streak marks down her face I sprinted after them. I jumped up as I bounded down the stairs and bounced off of the wall. As I hit the ground I tucked into a roll, striking my fist into his knee. Logan ducked slightly as his knee caved in and I drove my own knee into his forehead. Logan immediately jumped back to his feet, slashing his claws out at my chest. I barely pushed myself out of range before running forward again.

As Logan ran for me I ducked down and slid in between his legs in a split before hopping upright behind him. Logan whipped around much faster than a normal person could but I was still faster. I jumped up and slammed my fist down into his face - hard enough to kill a normal man. As I threw my fist out to punch Logan he sheared his claws through my hand. The crowd screamed as I threw out my spare hand to punch Logan dead across the face again. He stumbled back, his claws ripping out of my hand, which sealed itself almost immediately.

Before he could regain his footing I slashed out with my nails and cut through Logan's throat. As it healed I dropped to the ground and threw myself into a somersault, taking Logan's leg in my hands halfway through and dragging him to the ground. We both jumped up at the same time as Logan slashed out, catching me in the leg, but getting thrown back as I kicked him in the chest. I jumped after him again, driving my fist down into his head. His claws just managed to slice across my stomach. I grabbed his hand just before he managed to push his claws deeper in.

Logan grunted in pain as I dropped to the ground, spinning on my knees and popping his shoulder out of place. The claws on his spare hand across my back were what made me release him. I realized quickly that I couldn't get close enough long enough to Logan to get him to sleep without being skewered by his claws. And I needed to keep him preoccupied with fighting me rather than the other people in the room. I needed to keep my distance. And I knew exactly how. I had seen a family crest - the owners of the hall - with the two swords stuck in it earlier.

"Steve!" I shouted, barely fending off another one of Logan's attacks. He could get them to me the fastest. "The swords!"

"What?" Steve asked dumbly.

He came to move toward me but I pushed him back. Logan would murder him. "The swords, you moron! From the damned crest!" I snapped.

"Vic!" Peggy's voice shouted.

Thankfully, Peggy and I had always been on the same page. She must have already had an idea of what I was planning. I just barely managed to catch the two swords that Peggy threw at me from the top of the stairs. As Logan advanced on me again I rotated the swords in my hands to get a better grip on them. Logan swung his claws out from above at me that I deflected with the sword. I swung out the sword in my right hand that Logan was able to deflect with his claws as I took a step behind his back, swinging out with my right arm, which Logan was also able to deflect.

As Logan swung out his claws again I ducked underneath the blow before turning in a circle and throwing both swords out at him. Logan crossed his claws, catching my swords in between them. We each released each other just long enough to throw our weapons out at the other. Each set of blades locked together mere inches from our faces. Logan was the first to react. He threw his own claws upward as he leaned forward, headbutting me roughly in the face. I leaned back and went into a backflip, kicking Logan in the face as I landed feet away from him.

Just as I came down I threw the sword in my right hand at Logan. It pierced through his chest but otherwise did nothing. Logan removed the sword from his chest and dropped it to the ground. At the same time, he ran to me and crossed his claws over my head, attempting to decapitate me. I barely ducked under his claws as I spun on my knees and hopped up behind him. Logan turned with me as I tried to drive my sword into his throat. He could heal. At the same time, his claws again caught my stomach. I shoved him back.

For what felt like minutes - though I was sure that it had barely been five seconds - the two of us traded blow after blow. It took far too long for me to drive my other sword through his back. I had to release my grip on it a moment later to avoid Logan driving his claws through the back of my skull. I grabbed my sword again to drive it through his thigh before dropping down and rolling away from him. He took his claws and cut straight through the blade. Logan grabbed the back piece of the blade and threw it toward the audience. I barely managed to grab it as I threw it back at him.

Unfortunately, he caught it effortlessly. As he was momentarily distracted I leaned forward went into a side roll through the air, coming forward and kicking Logan in the head, throwing him across the concrete. Logan got back to his feet to swipe out at me. I ducked and punched him in the head as I kicked out his knee, jumping up to try and kick him in the head. Logan managed to catch my leg at his throat and throw me a few feet. I hit the ground in a tuck and roll as I sprang back up to my feet. Logan was already there.

His adamantium claws caught me in the cheek as I hit the ground, spinning over my shoulders, and hopping back up. I kicked out at his head as he hit the ground and caught my leg, rolling us each over the top of each other, throwing us almost into the crowd. I leaned onto my hand and spun over myself, back to my feet, leaning back to avoid his claws again. As Logan slashed out at me again I caught his arm and spun it behind him. He reached back over his shoulders to grab the strap of my dress, throwing me over himself.

When I finally came to a stop I realized that I was mere inches away from the closest onlookers. We had to end the fight now. I couldn't risk Logan getting closer and closer to these people. I couldn't worry about hurting him. I jumped up and blasted through the air to drive my knee into Logan's head, knocking him to the ground. He reached out for me again as I grabbed a piece of glass, stabbing him in the side of the head with it. Logan dropped to the ground, momentarily disoriented, as I leaned over the top of him.

He was still fighting as I laid my hands against his temple and whispered, "Sleep."

Much to my surprise, Logan immediately dropped limp against the ground, dead asleep. It was only then that I realized that people had been screaming through the entire fight. Once they realized that Logan was no longer a danger they stopped screaming. But they didn't appear ready to come anywhere near us. I was almost surprised at how heavily I was breathing. My heart rate was just barely over ninety beats a minute but that was far too fast for me. I leaned on my knees next to Logan as my boys quickly approached me.

Steve had only stopped to address a police officer. "Clear the area. We'll handle him."

"Yes, Captain," the officer responded.

Bucky was the first to my side, laying a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I answered honestly, staring at Logan's limp body. "Was anyone hurt?"

Howard was the next to come up to my side. "A few stumbles and twisted ankles but nothing we won't be able to take care of," he explained. I nodded blankly at him. Howard walked over to kneel down at Logan's side. "That's the real problem. I'm sorry, Victoria. I tried to clear the mutant's name."

It wasn't Howard's fault. It wasn't anyone's. I didn't even blame Logan. He was trying to figure his life out. He was confused. I glanced up and saw a news cameraman standing near the building. That was what Logan had been talking about. The man had been recording the entire thing. I approached the man, well aware that my dress was horribly torn and I had Logan's blood all over me. I strutted up to the man and raised a hand, freezing him in place. He gasped as I rested a hand on the camera and crushed it in my hands. I stared straight into his eyes as I did so.

"No one hears about this," I ordered. The man nodded in fear as I dropped the pieces of his camera to the ground. In the meantime, I turned back to Howard. "Send everyone home."

"What about him?" Steve asked, pointing to Logan.

"I'll take care of him," I answered tonelessly.

The office that Steve had spoken to a moment before walked up to us. "He's a criminal. He endangered hundreds of human lives. He belongs to us," the man told me.

Absolutely not. Logan had made a mess but he wasn't going to be executed for it. I stood in between the officer and Logan. "You can pry him from my cold dead hands. And since I can't die, you may want to take a step back," I growled, my eyes turning black. The office stumbled back from me in fear as I raised a hand and lifted Logan into the air with a force field, turning back to Howard. "Thank you for the party. It was lovely."

"Are you going to be okay?" Howard asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. Just worried about him," I said honestly, turning back to the rest of the men. "All of you. With me."

They nodded as we started walking off, brushing through the crying crowd and ever-growing police force. "Is he safe to be around?" Bucky asked nervously.

"He will be," I said.

"Who is he?" Dum Dum asked.

"His name is Logan. He's the mutant that saved my life in Stryker's lab," I answered.

"What happened to him?" Gale asked curiously.

"He was shot in the back of the head with an adamantium bullet. It's caused permanent memory damage," I explained, motioning to the slight scar on Logan's head. "I'm not sure how much of it I can undo, but I'll try my hardest."

"Why did he come here?" Steve asked.

It was an answer he could only give me once he remembered himself. "My best guess? Something triggered a memory. Some memory of me, more than likely. When Howard announced the gala and named me one of the guests of honor, Logan must have heard about it. He likely came here to try and figure out what had happened," I said as it was the only reasonable answer I had.

"If you were friends, why did he attack you?" Bucky asked.

"He doesn't remember being friends. He just remembers me. He doesn't know whether or not I'm a friendly face. When the woman yelled to kill him, he thought that I was going to hurt him. I can't blame him for attacking me."

"What do we do with him?" Steve asked.

"Bring him back to the base. You will do nothing," I answered. "I'll handle him."

The men continued to talk and ask questions as we walked but I wasn't willing to talk any longer. I floated Logan along at hip-level as I brought him back down the path to the base. I'd slowed down his heart rate enough to ensure that he wouldn't wake up until I was ready for him too. As we walked I turned back to the men and asked them to gather him some clothes and food. Steve and Chester had been ordered to do immediate damage control. Peggy was attempting to keep the cameras at bay and convince the reporters that it was just a misunderstanding.

When we returned to the base I quickly brought Logan to the room where I had been kept during my connection to the Soul Stone. Bucky stood behind the thick glass windows as I worked, gently probing through Logan's mind. It was almost impossible to find the details. The most I could get were little bits. His escape from being cornered by Stryker. An elderly couple being murdered. Logan going after his brother. Stryker finding him again. Attempting to murdered Stryker. Stryker barely getting away and almost killing Logan in the meantime, putting him back to where he was now.

Angry and sick. Looking for answers. I was already well aware that I couldn't completely fix what the adamantium bullet had done. That could take years. But I was prepared. I wanted to try and help. I cleared the fog in his mind as best I could, restoring those memories that I could make sense of. At least, the memories with me in them. Our escape from Stryker and his promise to keep me safe. Our departure from each other with the promise that he would one day return to our friendship. After working for nearly three hours, Logan bolted upright. I slammed him back into the bed.

"Relax," I said.

Logan's eyes shot up to mine. They contracted and dilated for a moment before settling. his body relaxed slightly underneath my hand. "Kid," Logan greeted, sounding unsure of the nickname.

"You remember me?" I asked.

"You... helped me... do something..." Logan said unconfidently.

"I helped you escape from Stryker's captivity. You saved my life a few years ago," I explained.

Logan nodded blankly. "What did you do to me? I have memories now. Are they real?"

Bucky had his face practically pressed against the glass as I nodded at Logan. "Cleared as much of the fog from your mind as I possibly could. It's not much but it should help you get back to your old self. It'll help," I told him. Logan nodded. "I'm sorry I can't do more."

He shook his head quickly. "You've done enough." That was when Logan noticed my appearance. My shredded and bloody dress and ruffled hair. "I attacked you," Logan said, likely just realizing how we had gotten here.

"It's fine," I said, waving him off. "You're not the first."

"Are you okay?" Logan asked carefully.

"Fine. It's you I'm more concerned about."

Logan had taken some hard hits from me out there. Neither one of us had held back. But he appeared to be alright for someone who had just gotten the shit kicked out of them and their memories back. He stared blankly as he looked around the room. Eventually, his gaze turned to the window. His gaze locked onto Bucky before slowly turning back to me.

"Who is that?" Logan asked.

"That's my fiance," I explained.

Logan stared at him for a long moment. Bucky looked slightly nervous but refused to look away. Logan finally nodded understandingly. "The boy you loved," he reasoned.

So, he did remember that. "That's him. His name is Bucky. You helped me get back to him," I told my friend, leaning forward and taking his bloodied hand. "I owe you a huge thanks, Logan."

"No, you don't," Logan said, shaking his head. "You were a kid that needed help."

"And you helped," I said.

But it didn't seem that Logan wanted to talk about that. He looked around the room instead. "What are you doing out here?" he asked.

We were both in particularly different situations from the ones we'd been in when we'd first met. "I'm a Sergeant in the United States Army," I told Logan. The slightest smile appeared on his face. More of a smirk, really. "I was an integral part of creating the world's first super soldier. Now we're tracking down Hydra - a Nazi science division led by Johann Schmidt. They call him the Red Skull."

Logan's dark brow raised. "Mutant?"

"Enhanced. Received his power through an injection," I explained.

"Weaknesses?" Logan asked tonelessly.

"He's human. He can be killed. We just have to corner him," I said. We remained in silence for a moment before I decided to just go for it. I'd wanted Logan to come around for so long. Now I finally had a chance to keep him here. I gave a slight smile as I leaned into him. "It could help to have another mutant on the team."

But Logan's answer was much quicker and blunter than I was expecting. "No," he said dully. My eyebrow quirked slightly. "I appreciate what you did for me but I'm not staying."

In all honesty, I couldn't be surprised by his answer. No matter how much I didn't like it. This was what he chose. He needed answers. Nothing more. I had given him what he needed. "I didn't think you would. You never struck me as a team player. I just had to ask," I said. Logan stared at me for a long time as we each debated on what to say next. I knew that I would have to make the first move. "Why did you come?"

"Because I saw your name in the newspaper. It reminded me of something. I wasn't sure what. I needed to come to see you and find out what you had to do with me," Logan explained.

"You wanted to know where you came from," I told him. Logan nodded. "I respect that."

"Could have been handled better," Logan shrugged.

"True. But mutants have never been known for thinking things through," I teased.

But it didn't get a smile out of Logan. He barely looked like he had heard me. Instead, he nodded vaguely. Logan slowly rose from his spot on the cot and came to stand in front of me. He was dangerously close. He was much closer than anyone else would have dared to stand - outside of the few people who loved me the most. Bucky didn't look particularly thrilled at the fact that Logan was so close to me. But I knew Logan. I knew that he was standing that close because he knew that it bothered Bucky.

As Logan stepped closer, I let out a deep breath. If he was going to leave I would at least make it as easy as possible. "We kept the media away from you. I've destroyed every bit of evidence I could find. My friends are working on damage control now. Trying to keep the story from leaking to the news. Help the name of the mutants," I told him gently.

"That's good," Logan said. He turned his back on me for a moment before turning back. "Kid." I nodded for him to continue. "Thank you for... this."

"You're welcome." Logan stared at me for a moment before turning to walk off. "Logan," I said loudly, calling him back to me. "You have a family here. If you ever want a place to be."

The tiniest of smiles popped up on his face. Logan crossed the room again and leaned down in front of me, planting a small kiss against my cheek. I smiled back at him. "You look better," Logan commented, giving me a once-over.

"Thank you," I whispered.

The only reason that I looked better now was because Logan had helped me. He had saved me. Now I had repaid the favor. Logan's eyes traced over my body again. "Although I do miss the way you looked the last time we saw each other," he commented. My cheeks burned dumbly as Bucky's jaw practically dropped to the floor. Logan strolled back through the door into the observation area and straight up to Bucky, who swallowed thickly. "If you hurt her, I'll hurt you."

Unlike me, Logan really would kill Bucky. My fiance swallowed thickly. "Understood." It looked like the two might have finally let it go, but he didn't. "Please stop looking at my fiance like that," Bucky requested.

Logan let out a soft puff of air as he turned back to me. "You know how to find me if you need me."

At that same moment, the men walked back into the base. They had everything I had requested from them. Food and new clothes for Logan to wear. I smiled at their confusion as Logan walked up to them. They all looked terrified at the sight of him walking around. Logan stared at the clothes in Gabe's hands for a moment before taking a brown leather jacket, plain white shirt, and jeans that looked a little too large. He stole the burger out of Jacques' hand and nodded at the boys before pushing through them. Not that it was that hard. They stumbled back from him in fear.

Just like that day we had left each other after leaving Stryker's lab, he turned back and gave me a final nod - and a silent promise: When it's time, we'll stay together. Maybe when my boys were gone. I watched Logan go while feeling a little pathetic. I really had wanted him to stay. Why wouldn't any of the mutants stay with me? Raven and now Logan. I wanted to help them. I wanted to be their family. But I already had a family. And, if I was being honest, so did most of them. Staying here would be intruding. Logan was a loner. He always had been and likely always would be.

For a long time, the men were silent. No one exactly knew how to shatter the tense void left by Logan's sudden departure. Eventually, Bucky did. He smiled as he wrapped an arm over my shoulder. "Well, he seems pleasant."

"He's messing with you," I told him.

"I think he likes your fiance," Dum Dum teased, whacking Bucky's shoulder.

"He doesn't like me. He likes annoying you," I told them.

"He's good at it, apparently," Bucky said, grinding his teeth.

"Vic," Steve said, stepping between us and taking my hand. "Are you alright?"

Not after the events of the evening. "Maybe it's selfish but I want to help the mutants. I want them to stay here where I can actually try and do some good. But they're too damn stubborn to fall out of the pattern of hiding and fighting. Every time I think I might be able to help one of them I seem to only make things worse," I whined, knowing that I wasn't doing enough to help them anyway.

Bucky reached over and laid a hand on the bottom of my back. "This isn't a fight you're going to win overnight, Vika. Take it slow."

I nodded carelessly as I waved them after me. "Come on. We should go clean up his mess."

"Wait. Where's he going?" Jim asked, motioning to where Logan had vanished from.

"Let it go," Bucky muttered.

"Seriously?" Dum Dum asked, earning a few hushes from the others in the room. "He makes the damn mess and we have to clean it up..."

By the end of the night, I had gotten them all on board with helping me clean up the mess. In the middle of the night, we had returned to the gala hall and cleaned the broken glass, blood stains, and cracked concrete from my fight with Logan. Thankfully, I was able to clean up almost everything. Howard had already promised to take care of the rest of the mess himself. We could erase what had physically happened here. The problem would now be forcing the rest of the world to forget what they had just seen.

A few days later, things had begun to return to normal. Bucky and I were strolling through the base on a walk. The two of us were chatting away about Logan and what had been going on with him since he had vanished. I made it clear that I was going to see him again one day - which Bucky surprisingly didn't seem to have a problem with. I just wanted to make him happier. I wanted him to have a good life. But he couldn't have that. Not when he still didn't genuinely have any idea of who he was.

Right now, what we all needed was for our group to stay out of the public eye. What Logan had done to find me certainly hadn't helped the reputation of the mutants. Naturally, the news media had spun the story to make it appear that the two of us were attempting to injure the rich and powerful men and women who were at the gala. Howard had done his best to dispel those rumors but it was his word against the hundreds of people who had been there. I'd warned Howard to just stay out of it. I didn't want him to become collateral if people thought he was supporting the mutants.

Howard, Chester, and Peggy had all been very busy attempting to keep the reporters on the base at bay. I had done my best to lay low and stick to the labs. I'd communicated with Logan on and off over the past few days. Gambit had apparently managed to track him down again. Logan continued to ask me to come join them, making it known that it was where I belonged. But I refused, still feeling very torn over what I was supposed to do. After all, this was my home now. And that was what I had told him. Logan had told me that I would also always have a home with them.

"You know, we never did anything for your birthday," Bucky said, pulling me from my thoughts.

"We had the gala. That was supposed to be my birthday dinner or whatever," I said blankly.

"It kind of got interrupted," Bucky teased.

"It's fine, Buck," I said, waving him off. "I'm not really into birthdays anyway. Not when I'll have an infinite number of them."

"But I want to celebrate the ones that I can with you," Bucky said, tightening his grip on my hand.

If he really wanted to do something, we would. Maybe it would help to get my mind off of what had happened. "Well, it's only been a few days. We can still do something," I said. A smile turned up on his face. I knew that he'd been trying to get me to do something over the last few days. "Do you want to get dinner or something? Maybe go see a movie. I don't even remember the last time I saw a movie. Or a play! I hear West End has some really great ones. Or maybe out to the beach. I know the water's going to be cold but I could heat it up -"

"Vika," Bucky interrupted my senseless rambling. I smiled bashfully at him. Maybe it was time that I did something instead of moping around. "Those are really great ideas but I - I have something else in mind. We can do those another time."

"Okay. What do you want to do?" I asked curiously.

Bucky reached into the pocket of his beige trousers and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to me. It had a set of coordinates not far from the base. "Can you bring us here?" Bucky asked.

"What's there?" I asked.

A small smile turned up on his face. "Take us there and find out."

"Oh. Secretive," I teased.

We both smiled at each other and laughed as we walked back a little further through the gardens. I knew that we should have told someone that we were leaving for a while but I didn't care enough to. I glanced down at the coordinates again as Bucky reached down and grabbed my waist. It was just a few miles from the base. Out towards the woods. I tried to think of what was out there but I couldn't figure it out. Most of the woods out there were undeveloped. I looked at Bucky again but he just gave me a teasing grin.

There was no way that he was going to tell me. I would just have to wait until we got there. I tightened my grip on Bucky before raising the wind up around us and shooting up into the air. The laugh that escaped Bucky's mouth was enough to put a genuine smile on my face for the first time in the past few days. We flew straight to the east for a few minutes before finally arriving at the location of the coordinates. I landed in the grass gently, deciding not to scare Bucky with a quick descent this time.

The place was absolutely lovely. I wasn't exactly sure what it was. Mostly just empty land from what I could tell. We were standing on a huge hill that overlooked a large lake. There was a tattered barn not far from where the two of us were standing. It looked like it was about ready to fall apart but I said nothing about it. This place was beautiful. Quiet and secluded. But I didn't understand what we were doing out here. Or how Bucky had managed to find this place. He wasn't completely useless but he also wasn't exactly a woodsman.

"What is this place?" I asked Bucky.

"Home," he answered.

"Home?" I repeated questioningly.

My head whipped around to face him. What the hell was he talking about? Technically our home was at the base. Otherwise, we didn't really have a home. Bucky had a dumb smile on his fave that widened the longer that I stared at him. That was when I suddenly remembered our conversation from a few months back when we were dancing together at the tavern. Bucky had told me that Howard had helped him find a plot of land that was secluded. And the way the sun rose... Bucky had brought me to the site of our future home.

"Bucky…" I breathed.

"Happy birthday," he said, pressing a kiss against my temple.

"Can we afford this?" I asked dumbly, looking around at the huge plot of land.

Bucky smiled again, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it." Which meant that Howard had taken care of this. There was no way that we could have afforded it ourselves. "What do you think?" he asked.

"It's beautiful," I answered.

"I'm glad you like it," he said.

"How much of it is ours?" I asked curiously.

"All of it. See all the way to the end of the lake, near the tree line?" Bucky asked, standing behind me. He pointed out toward the edge of the woods and I nodded. "The property line ends a few yards past it. It backs up almost all the way out to the main road. All of this is ours. No one will bother us out here. When the time comes that we're ready to build the house, it'll have room for everyone to come and visit. I talked to Steve about it. We'll build a guest house for him. He can stay here after the war until he's figured out where he wants to go next. There's room for all the guys and their families. Howard's insisted that he get his own space. Whatever for, I didn't want to ask. Chester can have his own place. Peggy asked if she could stay too. Howard's trying to make it out so that she and Steve have to share a space. There's even space for my siblings to come and visit with their families."

All of this space for the two of us. All this space for the rest of our friends. We could all live out here in peaceful solitude. I didn't speak for a long time as I wandered through the open field. Images of my friends and family being out here ran through my mind as I debated on what life could be like after the war was over. All of the men with their families. Howard, Peggy, Chester, and Steve. We could all be here together. This was the place that I had always wanted to be. This was the place where my life could finally be lived out in peace.

"What do you think?" Bucky asked, walking up behind me.

"I love it," I said honestly.

"Good."

"What are we going to do with a barn?" I asked.

Bucky shrugged as we wandered back over to the decrepit barn. "Maybe get ourselves a few horses," he offered. I smiled at him. "I always liked horses. Lots of room out here for dogs."

"I like that idea. Where will the house go?"

"Right there." Bucky turned me slightly and pointed out toward the lake. There was a perfectly flat section of land that a large house could fit on. "We can build whatever we want in the house."

"Like?" I asked.

Bucky chuckled under his breath. "Anything, Vika. Enough bedrooms for everyone to come and visit at the same time. A training room for you. A lab full of science junk that you won't let me in."

"A library," I said suddenly.

Bucky smiled. "A library. We'll do that. And how about that porch swing?"

"Yeah," I said happily. This was the place that I had always wanted to end up. "All the rest of this land? Even with everyone here, there's still so much extra room. What are we going to do? Become farmers?"

Not that I even knew how to raise a plant. "That's not exactly what I was thinking," Bucky said, grinning.

"What were you thinking?" I asked curiously.

"That side of the plot," Bucky said, pointing to a huge section of the land. "It looks like a good place for a school."

It took me a moment to process what he'd said. When it finally made sense, I whipped back around to him. "Are you serious?" I asked slowly.

He really wanted to keep mutants here? I would have loved it. But... it wasn't his job to help them. "You want to help them, I think you should do it. I think you'd be the best person to help them. You can't do it from all over the world. You can't just bring them to the base. You wonder why they don't want to stay?" Bucky asked. I nodded slowly. He knew how upset I was that Logan hadn't stayed. "They feel like they're intruding. Still too close to someone else's life. But what if you brought them all here? Gave them a place where they could be safe."

How had I been paying so little attention that I hadn't even realized that he was doing this? All of this. I was almost astounded by everything Bucky had been doing over the past few months. Since we had met all those years ago, actually. But particularly this. He must have been working on this for months. Clearly even longer than that if he had gotten this far. I turned to Bucky and stared at him for a long time, unable to find the words I wanted. When I finally did, I knew that they weren't anywhere close to being good enough.

"Thank you," I breathed stupidly.

It didn't bother Bucky. He just smiled. "You don't have to thank me. Are you happy?"

"Yes," I answered immediately.

"That's all I wanted," he said earnestly.

That was exactly what he'd gotten. I turned back toward Bucky and smiled broadly at him. I stepped up to him and wrapped an arm back around his neck, planting a long kiss against his lips. He smiled into the kiss, winding his hands up my back and into my hair. I laughed softly as he lifted me up. Who would have done something like this for me? No one. That was who. It was just one more way that Bucky did things for me that no one else would have ever done. Even finally giving me a place where I could be everything I ever wanted.

A/N: I know it was a super brief appearance from Logan, but I promise that he'll be back! I know this is a long chapter but I had a lot to say in it. Hope you liked it! As always, thank you for the follows and favorites! Please review! Until next time -A

laraceleste: I'm so glad that you love this so much! I really love writing it. Hope you enjoyed this one!

Crazy Devil Girl: She really is! It's so great getting to write from her P.O.V. since she's such a hard-ass. Trust me, she'll have all sorts of arguments with so many different people before all is said and done. Hopefully my explanation for Victoria's future in regards to Steve and Bucky made sense! Hope you liked this one!

.witch: I honestly do forget about this story from time to time but I always get so excited to keep writing it every time I get back into it. I feel like Victoria's real power will come through in Infinity War and Endgame and I have plans for her with Thanos. I can't not take it all the way through! I'm so glad that you loved the last chapter. Her friends will always stand with her. Hope you liked this one!

.2019: I'm so glad you loved the last one! Hope you liked this one!

Verona1700: Thank you! Hope you liked this one!

queenxb: Thank you! Glad you liked it. Hope you enjoyed this one!

Guest: There's kind of no way to explain Bucky's fall/what Victoria will be doing without reading the chapter. At least no way that isn't spoiler-filled. Your idea is actually an interesting one but it's not what's going to happen. I don't want to spoil it for everyone who doesn't want one but it won't all be explained in the immediate aftermath. For a while, you might have to live with not knowing exactly how Victoria doesn't pick up on Bucky. Some of that was explained in this chapter if you were paying attention. As I said, it won't all be explained at once. It'll take time. Hopefully, by the end it'll all make a reasonable amount of sense. Hope you liked this one!