"Stark knows you're back, but I don't want to share it with the class." Kayla muttered as Steve turned off her car in front of the compound. She took note of all the cars, recognizing Tony's but not the black car beside it. "Somebody's here."

"Where do you want me?"

"The medical wing. Once I get a blood sample I'll be able to work on it alone." Kayla squeezed Steve's hand before popping open her door and climbing out. She turned to barely look over her shoulder, speaking to Steve while keeping her eyes on the glass doors ahead, "Park around back. I'll see you soon."

Kayla's head began to spin as she reached the main doors to the lobby. She didn't have time to entertain whoever was visiting. She needed to finish her work before the government realized her husband was back on American soil.

Shit.

Standing at the top of the staircase with Tony was Secretary Ross. Kayla grit her teeth and forced a sweet smile as she approached the stairs, calling up casually, "Secretary Ross! I didn't realize you'd be stopping by this afternoon, otherwise Iwould have made myself scarce."

Ross looked down and nodded slowly, "Would have been a disappointment seeing as I came to see you."

Kayla was thankful her skin wasn't keeping any color because otherwise Ross would have clearly seen her flush ghostly white, "Me? Why?"

"I saw your interview. Heard what you said about the serum and pulled a few strings." He replied, his tone cautious but his gaze a clear warning, "I think we can all agree we don't want you to die, and seeing as Captain Rogers is nowhere to be found-"

"What strings did you pull?" Kayla asked bluntly, looking to the right towards the elevator, "Gimme a minute please."

She strode away, wondering what Ross was planning. At least Tony had kept tight lipped about Steve. Maybe he didn't believe he was actually back.

When she reached the top floor, she realized there was a nervous looking man she'd never seen before fidgeting in a chair behind Stark. She narrowed her eyes when he stared at her in fascination and horror, but Kayla didn't respond to his silent questions.

"This is Doctor Nagel. I believe your mother spoke to you about his progress with the serum." Tony explained. He was stiff. He already knew Kayla's feelings about the manner, but it appeared Ross had brought Nagel on his own.

"Ahh, the former Hydra agent who has been using my formula for the basis of his work." Kayla batted her eyelashes at the man, but her smile was anything but sweet. "At least tell me you didn't know I was Kayla Ellis at the time."

The man's eyes narrowed at Kayla as she crossed her arms, waiting for him to put it together, but her impatience got the better of her, "Katiana Malani."

"That was you?" He asked, looking to Ross in horror, "Her work is the most advanced Hydra could get its hands on. Using the blood samples from the test subject, I was able to create a working serum, it just takes hours to synthesize. She could probably do it in under an hour if she had a blood sample like I did."

"Exactly, so if you could excuse me, I have work to do." Kayla spat as she started walking away, but Ross called her back, "You said in the interview you needed Captain America to finish your serum. If you think you can do it alone, I can only assume you've found him."

Kayla rolled her eyes, hating that her mother was always right. She turned back around and smiled meekly at the Secretary of State, "I'm running out of time, Sir. If I knew where Steve was, I'd be there. I'm just trying to save my own life so I can save theirs." She held her stomach protectively as she held her breath, wondering if he'd buy her act.

"You sure you don't want any help?" Ross asked evenly, "I can see your pride is getting in the way, but I know what is at stake. At least look at his formula. I'll even send over the blood samples from the test subjects we have."

"Fine. Send me what you have. I'll give it a once over." Kayla said to Nagel before shifting her green eyes to Ross, "Thank you. I really do appreciate your efforts. I'm just bitter that my husband left me and our child for dead. If there was any other way, I'd be doing that."

Ross nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets, "You know if you succeed, you'll fall under jurisdiction of the Accords?"

"Yes, but I don't plan on doing any fighting, so I think I'll just take the retirement option." Kayla answered before sweeping out of the room, leaving Tony to entertain their guests while she went to work saving her own ass.

She looked over her shoulder as she approached the medical wing, making sure nobody was following her. It was quiet, even Doctor Cho was out of town for business. Kayla hoped she could get what she needed and work quickly alone. The sooner she had a working serum, the sooner she could get out of dodge with Steve and the others.

Flipping on the lights, Kayla noticed Steve lingering at the far edge of the room, "Who is here?"

"Ross." Kayla answered evenly as she opened up a cabinet and pulled out a syringe. She heard Steve shifting uncomfortably, but didn't spare him a glance as she grabbed a vial for the blood, "I don't think he knows you're here, but we should still hurry."

She finally turned to Steve with the needle in hand, hoping he didn't notice the way it quivered in her grip. He looked from the syringe to her face with a brave expression, "We're gonna do it right. Don't hurry." Steve rolled up the long sleeve of his plaid shirt and presented his left arm to Kayla, "I trust you."

"I'd trust somebody else, I'm no doctor."

"I've dealt with more pain than a needle prick," he assured her, grabbing her wrist gently to steady her, "Go for it."

With his encouragement, Kayla carefully maneuvered the needle into Steve's vein, pulling out a steady stream of blood before removing it. Her sigh of relief made Steve chuckle and he took the syringe from her and filled the vial, sealing it before handing it back, "You have everything you need."

"I'm scared." She admitted, gazing down at Steve's blood. "What if it turns me into a monster?"

"It won't." Steve promised, wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her cheek, "Let's get to work."

Kayla placed the vial into a slot in the supercomputer and typed in her passcode to bring it to life. "Hey FRIDAY. Do me a favor, run diagnostics on this blood sample against my fourth variation of the super soldier formula please. Give me the variables. In writing, there's ears everywhere." Kayla shot Steve a warning look over her shoulder, but he wasn't paying attention. His hands had wandered lower and were caressing her baby bump lovingly as he watched, as if waiting for the baby to respond to him.

"Do you think they know who I am?" He whispered, the sadness in his voice so immense it caused Kayla to stop reading the screen and turn to him. Steve sighed, "Am I a stranger?"

"You'll be here when they arrive. That's what matters." Kayla promised, but a ping drew their attention to the screen.

"Variable detected. Serum formula updated."

Kayla swallowed hard, clenching Steve's forearms as he held her, "You did it. You figured it out."

"I was expecting to be missing something big, but, I could boil that up in our kitchen with materials from any lab."

"We're not going to." Steve said as Natasha sprinted into the room with Wanda right behind her, "Ross called in the National Guard. They know we're here."

"Go, I have what I need, I'll find you." Kayla ordered but Steve looked to Natasha grimly, "Steve-"

"I'm not leaving until I know the serum works, and I don't trust you to make it alone." He shot back, grabbing Kayla's cheeks in his hands, "You said you could make it in our kitchen, how fast can you synthesize it?"

"My version should take less than twenty minutes."

"Then get to work. Natasha, be her hands. Wanda, you keep them out of here, by any means necessary. We aren't moving out until we know she's gonna be okay."

Natasha and Kayla watched Steve twitch as Wanda stood behind the doorway to the medical wing, hands glowing to stop any intruders.

"I need to go to the lab." Kayla told Nat and Steve, scanning the formula on the screen for a moment before telling FRIDAY to wipe it away. "I don't want that to ever see the light of day. You catch something even remotely similar on the internet, you tag it as a virus."

"Captain Rogers."

They turned to see Vision faze through the far wall, and Wanda turned on him instantly, blasting him back a step before growling, "Vis. She needs us. She needs me, and I won't let you stop us."

Vision looked around in confusion, then carefully stated, "I was sent by Mr. Stark to help in any way you need. He's doing his best to keep Secretary Ross occupied, however the Secretary had a hunch you all returned after Mrs. Rogers' interview."

"Well, he's not wrong. Help Wanda clear the way, we gotta move to the lab." Steve ordered as he scooped up Kayla, causing her to groan as he carried her through the door.

"SWAT is on their way. Ross is bringing in the big guns. I think you've lost the element of surprise." Tiffany informed once they reached the lab doors, "I set up what you had in your briefcase."

"And the lab will have everything I didn't." Kayla answered quickly, turning on a machine to heat up her serum, "Where's Sam?"

"He's bringing the quintet around to the landing pad on the roof for a quick escape. He'll be back soon."

Kayla turned to Tiffany, then Natasha, "If this isn't done, you all go, okay?"

Nat shook her head slightly, smirking as she pulled on a pair of gloves, "Captain says we stay, so we stay."

"Ugh!" Kayla groaned, glaring at Steve as he watched the door, shifting from foot to foot, "Damn it, Steve."

"Get to work." He ordered, gesturing to Natasha, "Tell her what to do."

Kayla turned to her friend, giving specific directions for the ingredients as the Black Widow followed her instructions to the letter. They didn't even look up until Sam barged through the door in his suit, "They are here."

"I need two more minutes, we've almost got it!" Kayla yelled, taking the mixture and heating it up, "C'mon."

"Rogers, open up this door right now!" Ross's voice bellowed from beyond the door and Steve looked to Sam, knowing what was about to happen.

"Go. Take Wanda and Nat and get out of here. I'll finish up with Kay."

Sam took a deep breath, looking down at his wife as she watch Kayla and Natasha pull the boiling serum from the heat. "Naw man, I'm not leaving my wife again, and she's not gonna leave Kay until we know this works. Tiff can visit me on the Raft. I can maybe take a deal like Clint and Lang, but I'm done running. I'm home."

"But Wanda-"

"Isn't leaving the only family she has left." She looked to Vision then Kayla, "My sister needs my protection, and I'll face whatever punishment I incur because of it."

"It's almost cool." Kayla muttered to herself, completely in her own world as Natasha smiled grimly at Steve, giving him a firm nod to tell him she wasn't leaving either.

Sam, Wanda, and Natasha had put their faith in Steve before and he'd led them down a path they couldn't return from. If they went to jail now, it was because they were following him, and protecting his family. As the SWAT team began to pound on the door with a battering ram, Steve realized he was out of options. He was going to be held responsible for his actions, because even if he was doing what he believed was right, he broke the law. There was no reason all of his friends should suffer because of his decisions.

"Kay!"

Steve whipped around to see his wife tip back the vial and pour the serum down her throat as Tiffany ran towards her. Kayla gripped Tiffany's forearm, still holding the vial in the other as her body shook.

"Kay?" Steve took a step towards her as she looked up at him fearfully, but the door to the lab broke open moments before the vial crashed against the tile floor. Steve bolted towards her, grabbing her before her legs went out. She began to sweat and pant, but turned towards the door at the sound of guns cocking. "Get out of here."

He shook his head, his jaw twitching a little as he watched Kayla fidget in his arms, "It's too late, Darling. I'm sorry."

"Captain Rogers, you are under arrest for breaking the law set forth by the Sokovia Accords. Surrender now or we'll be forced to use lethal force." Ross warned darkly.

Natasha drew her guns as Sam shielded Tiffany, who held Kayla's hand until the blonde passed out, "Kayla!"

Ross took a step forward and Wanda threw up a force field, keeping Ross, SWAT, and the National Guard away from her family. Ross shot her a pointed glare but she just bent her knees and focused her power, preparing to fight if she needed to.

Steve smoothed the little broken hairs away from Kayla's face, feeling her forehead and realizing she had a fever. He slowly trailed his hand along her arm, feeling the muscles beneath his fingertips buzzing and pulsing, a sure sign that her serum was working. Kayla would be okay. They'd all be okay.

"Sam, take her." Steve ordered. He carefully passed Kayla to his friend, pressing a kiss to her forehead before whispering, "Forgive me."

Ross had grown impatient, turning to glare at Tony Stark beside him, "You said they weren't here."

"This is the first time I've seen Steve Rogers since the fight in Germany." Tony muttered, leaving out Siberia so to not incriminate himself. Steve smiled weakly at Tony, but the man didn't share his greeting, instead glaring at Steve darkly.

"Arrest all four of them. Take them to the Raft." Ross ordered, staring down Steve, "If anyone resists, don't be afraid to stop them by any means necessary."

"Wanda, drop the shield." Steve said and his team stared at him anxiously. When Wanda didn't move, Steve repeated, "It's over Wanda. Drop the shield, and release them."

The Scarlet Witch lowered her hands, cocking her head to the right in confusion as Natasha stepped closer to Steve. He gave Wanda a firm nod, then addressed Ross. "I blackmailed Maximoff into mind controlling Sam and Natasha into helping me. I knew I couldn't outrun the government alone." Steve lied easily, looking back to a baffled Wanda before nodding towards Ross, "Tell him what I said to you."

She looked from Steve to Nat, then to Kayla's limp body in Sam's arms as Tiffany ran her hands up and down Kayla's arms worriedly. Wanda looked to Steve with glowing red eyes, parroting the words in his head, "He told me he'd bury me so deep in the Sokovian rubble even my brother's soul couldn't find me."

"Steve..." Natasha trailed as Wanda's eyes went back to normal with tears streaming down her cheeks. Steve looked to Nat and she eyed him warily, "Don't do this."

"I'm sorry I tricked you. I needed the help." Steve voice broke, but he turned his back on Natasha and Sam before they could argue, and he stepped towards Ross, "Let them go free, and I'll surrender myself to disciplinary action. Their actions were a direct result of my control over them, and they shouldn't be held responsible for my fear." Steve held out his wrists for Ross to cuff, "All I ask is that my wife is allowed to visit."

"You don't get to make demands."

"But I do." Sandra said as she appeared from behind the armed agents. She stood beside Ross with her arms lightly crossed, "Because of Captain Rogers' negligence, my daughter is dying, but she's now clearly ingested an experimental drug. If she needs to see him, she'll get to see him. I still have some leverage, even with you."

Ross shifted uncomfortably, clearly bitter that the former First Lady was now calling the shots. He looked past Steve to Kayla in Sam's arms, and even he could see how she twitched, but her color was starting to return. "Visitation can be discussed." He said before smirking at Steve, "You're going to the Raft. Cuff him."

A half dozen SWAT members cautiously crept toward Steve, but he stood frozen in place, unable to look back at his wife. She'd be devastated when she realized what he'd done. They were gonna run away together, they just ran out of time.

They roughly pulled Steve's arms behind his back, placing three sets of cuffs on his wrists to make sure he was secure, then shoved him forward. As he passed Ross, the Secretary of State said, "I hate that we have to do this Captain. It's a shame to see you behind bars, but you've left us no choice."

Steve didn't answer, only smiled slyly as Ross ordered them to take him away.

Tiffany watched as they led Steve away, waiting until they'd lowered their weapons and cleared the lab to look back at Kayla, seeing her color back to normal. Sandra approached, eyeing her daughter nervously before asking, "Is it working?"

"I followed her instructions. She said it was ready, then downed it." Natasha answered as Sam carefully lowered Kayla to the ground, holding her in his lap as the woman knelt down beside him. Nat looked to Sam sadly, "Why did Steve lie for us?"

"Are you surprised?" Sam's breath hitched, "Does this mean we're free?"

"We'll figure that out later." Sandra said, squeezing Kayla's hand. She twitched, tossing her head to the side and whimpering as she scrunched her face, "Sweetheart?"

"I feel like I'm burning alive." She mumbled, unable to open her eyes, "It hurts like hell."

"What do we do?" Tiffany yelped as Kayla's head lulled to the side again, "Is she okay?"

Wanda approached, wiggling her fingers as she reached toward her friend, "Let me see-"

When she placed her hand to Kayla's head, the blonde jolted, bursting her eyes open but realizing she wasn't in the lab. She was in the Avengers Compound, but nobody was around.

"Hello?" Kayla called, looking down when she realized she was ankle deep in golden water, immediately before realizing she was no longer pregnant, "What's happening to me?" She pushed back her hair, finding it longer than it had been before. If this was the serum, it had some very odd effects, but the strangest was finding herself here alone. "Is anybody here?"

Suddenly, appearing from thin air, a young blonde stared back at Kayla. Her blue eyes were wide, but she didn't necessarily seem alarmed, just confused. Kayla took a few steps closer, sloshing the water and following the young woman's gaze to the water, finding an inky red staining the gold, "What is this place?" Kayla breathed, looking up at the girl and remembering, "You were in my vision in Sokovia. You called me Mom."

The girl's mouth twisted up into a weak smile, "Apparently, your Wanda has found her way into the Soul Realm. And apparently, we share one between the different realities. This is my dominion. My gift and my curse. Just as Wanda's power was awakened by the Mind Stone, I was bonded with the Soul Stone before I was even born."

"But who are you?" Kayla asked, reaching out and grabbing the girl to see if she was really there. When her fingertips touched the girl's forearm, she quivered a little, "Am I dead?"

"Not in your reality, but in mine, yes." The girl said bluntly, turning and narrowing her eyes at Kayla, "My name is Sarah."

"You're named after your grandmother..." Kayla trailed off and Sarah nodded, "See, now you're catching on."

Kayla shook her head, crouching down and grabbing her scalp, "This isn't possible."

"There's a lot you don't understand, but you live in a branch reality where everything has gone askew. That's our fault. But..."

"But what?" Kayla snapped, standing and glaring at Sarah, "Why is this happening right now?"

"We need to stop Thanos. In our reality, we did, but in yours, you don't. You can't. You lose the wrong players and Thanos overtakes your world, and is now ripping through the fabric of reality to overtake ours. Do you understand that?" Sarah snapped, placing her arms on her waist the way Steve always did. Kayla exhaled heavily, grabbing her mouth with one hand and her stomach with the other as Sarah continued, "My brother and I are trying to find a way to you to help. Just don't tell anybody you've met me. It'll only make it more complicated." Kayla stared at Sarah with her jaw slack, and the blonde smiled genuinely, "See you soon, Mom."

Kayla's eyes burst open and she sat up, grabbing her stomach instinctively and finding her bump back. She sighed, rubbing her stomach and looking to the left in time to see Tiffany sprinting from the bathroom, "Kay!"

"What happened?"

"You passed out. Wanda tried to help, but your heart stopped. You were gone for almost four minutes." Tiffany sat at the side of the bed and patted Kayla's thigh. Kayla could see how shaken her best friend was and grabbed her hand to give it a squeeze, which in turn caused Tiffany to grimace in slight pain. "We were so scared, Kay."

"I'm okay, I..." Kayla stopped, remembering what Sarah had said about not making 'it' more complicated and deciding 'I went to a different reality' might cause Tiffany to think she'd had brain damage from her time with the dead. "I'm okay. I feel pretty good actually." Kayla sat up a little more and stretched, then looked up her arms before sliding her hands over her breasts to her stomach, "I don't look like I'm on death's door anymore, so that's good!"

Tiffany's smile was strained as she nodded, "Mhmm. I'm really thankful you're okay. Mom had the lawyer drive up, she's meeting with him now. You've been out for about six hours."

Kayla narrowed her eyes at Tiffany, then raised her head towards the door, "Where's Steve?"

"About that..." Tiffany trailed off and Kayla stood, walking over to the mirror to study herself, realizing she was taller. All the curves she'd lost being pregnant had come back as muscle and she felt like she'd somehow been breathing wrong until now. Unsurprisingly, she was hungry, but she didn't feel like she would pass out if she didn't eat. Her constant hunger was now an annoyance, not a need. It took her a moment to realize Tiff hadn't answered her question about her husband. He would have been here at her side. If Steve wasn't here right now, he wasn't here at all. Swallowing hard, Kayla looked back to Tiffany, already having an idea of what she was going to say. Tiffany sucked in a sharp breath and whispered, "They took him, Kay. Ross took him to the Raft. He told Ross he'd blackmailed Wanda into controlling Sam and Nat. He let them take him so they'd acquit the others."

Kayla sat back on the bed, staring at the far wall blankly as Tiffany rubbed her back. It didn't bring the comfort it was meant to. Nothing would. After spending six months alone, starting to wonder if she'd never see Steve again, Kayla had him back for barely two days before she lost him again. At least now she'd know where to find him.