Two Months Later

Kayla sat at Steve's desk in the Avenger's Compound, staring dully at the computer screen ahead of her as the United Nations panel argued over what course of action to take against a sex trafficking ring running out of the Indonesian archipelago.

"They are kidnapped over four hundred women and children, we cannot stand by and let this occur any longer. If the local governments won't do something, we have to!" The representative from Japan argued as the French ambassador snorted and pushed back his curly hair and spat, "What makes you think a sex trafficking ring is a worthy cause for the Avengers?"

"Because those people could be dead!" A woman who was born in Brazil but now represented Iceland barked back, "Are their lives worth less to you because they aren't French or because they are women?"

"Whoa, whoa, no need to throw around that kind of talk!" Canada's panelist interjected, "I think he just means the local governments should be able to handle it. We don't know for sure that they are dead-"

"If they could, they would have already." The Brazilian snapped, glaring into the camera, "This panel was created to govern over the Avengers because they were causing damage around the world without any jurisdiction. Now we've come to the complete opposite problem, where the Avengers don't show up at all."

Kayla giggled and she knew every gaze on the screen was looking at her. She cleared her throat and shrugged, reaching over and grabbing a handful of potato chips from the open bag next to her on the desk, until South Africa's panelist asked, "Is something funny, Miss Ellis?"

She laughed again, snacking on a chip before looking back to the camera, "This whole panel is laughable honestly. I mean, what Avengers? You have three Avengers and one active-duty non-combatant. Sure, you can send War Machine in to save the hostages and make the place go boom, but if you want the bastard alive, you're not gonna be able to send in the Avengers. There's no extradition in Madripoor, so your options are sneak in and snipe him, or appeal to their government for their cooperation." Kayla baby talked, sticking out her lower lip in a pout to mock them. She looked over her shoulder at Tiffany, beaming as her assistant brought her a cheeseburger. When the Japanese representative raised her brow curiously, Kayla shrugged, "Super Baby is hungry, so Super Momma needs to eat."

"What would you suggest we do?" The French Ambassador sighed warily. Kayla took a huge bite of her burger, and put up her finger to tell them to wait a moment. She swallowed hard, taking a long drink of her water while Tiffany stood off the side trying not to laugh.

"What would I suggest we do?" Kayla asked herself, tapping her red nails against the desk. It was an excellent question. Perhaps she shouldn't have spoken up if she had nothing to bring to the table, but Secretary Ross spoke up above the rabble. "She's right. If we send in a high profile Avengers team to do this, they'll never get near the ring. Any chance of having the leader stand trial comes from a covert mission. Unfortunately, as Mrs. Rogers stated, our only covert operative operating on behalf of the Accords is the Black Widow. Do you believe she could do it alone?"

"I'm sure she can, but I don't think that's a chance we should take." Kayla said evenly, chewing her bottom lip as she stared out the window. Nat would succeed because she'd have to, but it was a big task to take on alone. Five hundred agents and officers had tried to stop the ring, and only twenty-four of them managed to return. "We don't have jurisdiction there, if we send in Romanoff we'd be breaking our own laws. Then what happens to the integrity of this panel? I don't want to agree with Le Asshole, but is this the hill you want us to die on? Maybe we need to get creative."

"So you're suggesting we send in someone who isn't governed by the Accords? Turn a blind eye?" The Canadian representative asked and Kayla opened her mouth, stammering a little before the gentleman from South Africa chuckled, "Are you surprised? Look at her husband! That was the thinking that landed Captain America behind bars on the Raft."

Kayla narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, running her tongue along the front of her teeth. She clenched her hand, wondering if she had enough strength to shatter the computer screen with her bag of chips. When she raised her gaze to Tiffany, she saw the small brunette miming breathing in and out, telling Kayla to keep her cool, but Kayla had already decided she wasn't going to continue with the conversation, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. Send an email about what you decide." Kayla turned off the camera and leaned back in her chair, looking up at Tiffany as she rested both of her hands on her stomach, "I'm allowed to be a little moody. I'm incredibly pregnant."

"I'm aware." Tiffany answered as she leaned against the windowsill, picking up a framed photo of Steve with Sam at their wedding, "It's been two weeks, you wanna go for a visit?"

The blonde shrugged, raising her arms above her head to stretch, causing her toned muscles to clench beneath her soft skin. "I hate seeing him there. I swear they aren't feeding him. He's pale and he's tired. Part of me wishes he hadn't come back."

"You don't mean that. Ross said he'd consider allowing Steve to come visit you at the hospital when baby comes. That's huge."

"Yeah, it'll be great having him there for three hours before he misses their childhood." Kayla mumbled as she rubbed her stomach, "Baby's gonna come early. Any day now. I can tell."

Tiffany nodded absentmindedly as she gazed out the window, seeing storm clouds brewing in the distance. It was mid March, and the snow had melted, making way for puddles and gunk everywhere. At least the trees were trying to bloom again. The world needed some color, it had felt too grey for too long.

Suddenly, Tiffany's phone began ringing moments before Kayla's computer dinged. She groaned and turned back to her screen to see what the panel had decided as Tiffany answered, "Hey Love, what's up?... You're- what?" Tiffany looked to Kayla, seeing the blonde cover her mouth to keep her emotions from spilling out as Tiffany gasped, "Are you serious? They want you to go? But what about the Accords, you didn't sign-"

"They're sending Steve." Kayla whispered, grabbing her stomach and holding it tighter, telling her baby excitedly, "If he can stop the ring, he can come home."

"Captain Rogers."

Steve looked up from where he sat on his cot in his prison cell, all alone on the Raft. Thaddeus Ross ambled towards him, carrying a file in his hand and a smirk on his face that made Steve's stomach churn, but that could also be from the lack of food they were providing. He needed four times more than the average prisoner, and the Raft staff weren't about to foot the bill for Steve's raging metabolism. Steve stood, crossing his arms over his chest and causing the thin fabric of his prison uniform to pull across his biceps, "Sir?"

Ross seemed to study Steve for a moment, then began to make small talk, "How's your wife?"

"How should I know? I'm sure you see her more than me."

"She's a feisty one. Looks great. Had a panel meeting today and I'd swear she was gonna pop at any moment."

Steve balled his right hand into a fist under his forearm, forcing a dry laugh, "Wish I could be there to see it."

The Secretary of State shrugged and held up the file, "Maybe you can." He turned and walked away, and Steve wondered what the hell he was talking about. Suddenly, two guards appeared from the door to the cell to handcuff him. Steve looked to them, then back in the direction Ross had gone. He allowed them to handcuff his wrists together in front of him and they led him to the control room of the Raft, where they sat him down across the table from Ross. The older gentleman offered Steve a glass of water, but the soldier didn't so much as blink. "I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here."

"I'm more curious as to why you're taunting me."

"With freedom?"

"Talking about my wife." Steve corrected, not about to think for a moment that Ross would let him go. "What did you mean by what you said? About maybe being able to see her?"

Ross opened up the file and slid it across the table for Steve to read. "Five hundred men and women have gone after this guy. Runs a sex trafficking ring out of Madripoor. Problem is, there's no extradition from there, which means if we send in the Avengers we are in a whole heap of trouble. We were going nuts trying to figure out a solution, because we can't let anymore women and children be taken. We were gonna send in Romanoff, but then your wife said the darndest thing." Steve raised his brow, and Ross smirked, "She said if we send in the Black Widow, we'd be breaking our own laws and that maybe we needed to get creative."

"What's your idea of getting creative?" Steve asked darkly, "What're you getting at?"

"After Kayla signed off, someone on the panel suggested sending in you. You aren't governed by the Accords and you're currently incarcerated, so if you were to eliminate the problem, the government of Madripoor couldn't blame it on us." Ross explained, pushing the packet a little closer, "If you fail, then you were an enemy of the state working against the Accords and you'll come right back here. If you succeed, let's just say you might make your child's birth after all."

Steve read the file again, seeing it for what it was- a suicide mission. If this was what it took to get back to Kayla, though, so be it. "I'm in."

"Great. We'll get you gear. Got Wilson on the phone, he said he'll join you if you said yes. Just the two of you. Forty-eight hours. If you can bring him in alive, I'll reinstate you as Captain America. If you can confirm he's dead, you'll be freed from the Raft as a civilian."

"The hostages?"

"Once we take out the leader, the ring will crumble. You're being sent in to eliminate the leader. There are other agencies who can do the rest." Ross explained slowly, pulling the file away, "His twin sister owns a bar in Low Town." Ross set a phone down in front of Steve, "Take photos, record audio, send me messages about anything and everything you can find. I want Selby either dead or captured by Wednesday morning. Wilson is already on his way to collect you. You'll have an hour to suit up, and then forty seven hours to complete your mission. Any questions?"

Steve looked down at his bound hands. He stared down at his wedding ring before asking, "Can I see Kay before I go?"

"I'd rather you didn't. Complete the mission and you can go straight home to her. I'll have your pardon on the president's desk Wednesday morning."

"Okay." Steve conceded, knowing she'd find out what was happening from Ross anyway, "Thank you for the opportunity."

"Good luck, Captain Rogers. You'll need it." Ross warned as the guards grabbed Steve by the arms and led him back to his cell, where an all-black stealth suit and an ankle monitor sat on his cot. He looked up at the cameras, then went to the bathroom to change, preparing himself for the most important mission of his life. He had to get back to Kayla at any cost.

Kayla laid across her living room couch with her feet up on the coffee table as she played with the holographic tracker of the quinjet. Tiffany was pouring herself a glass of wine and grabbing a plate of cheeses for them to snack on while they stalked their husbands, "Looks like he's got Steve." Kayla called over her shoulder into the kitchen. She rubbed her stomach as the baby kicked her hard, "Hey! Be nice, Kiddo. Just because I'm a super soldier now doesn't mean I can't feel pain." Kayla looked up when Tiffany sat the food down on the couch next to Kayla, then plopped into Steve's reclining chair.

"You gonna call?"

"I'm torn. I want to, but I don't want to distract him." Kayla hummed as she picked up a chunk of goat cheese and dipped it in honey before plopping it into her mouth, "Besides, if all goes well, he'll be back in my arms by Wednesday morning."

"And back in your bed by Wednesday evening." Tiffany teased, but Kayla whimpered a little as a Braxton Hicks contraction rocked through her body. "Although I don't think you're up for much fun in the bedroom at this stage."

"What? Are you kidding? I got this." Kayla grunted, "If this baby comes before Steve gets home, I'll be livid."

"Worst case, if baby comes before Steve gets back, Steve will come home to baby. It's better than going back to prison."

Kayla nodded rapidly, breathing through her mouth as the fake contractions settled and the baby stopped kicking. She leaned back against the couch cushions and sighed, "We can't spend the next two days dwelling on what their doing. It stresses baby out."

Tiffany swiped away the hologram and sipped her wine, catching Kayla's sparkling green eyes on her glass, "Not for you."

"Just a little? I have a protective barrier on my cells, so in theory, it should get fought off before it gets near baby. Or my liver."

The brunette handed the glass of red wine to Kayla and she took a long drink before giving it back. Tiffany looked into her half-empty glass and scoffed, "You know, you're a chemist, not a doctor. Maybe you should see a real one more often. Not the ones on the Avengers' staff, but in the real world?"

"I already have a doctor on call for when the baby comes, thank you very much." Kayla retorted, shoving a chunk of cheddar cheese into her mouth, "Now, how shall we waste the next two days away before life goes back to normal?"

Steve ambled down the dirty streets of Low Town with his hood up, keeping his senses sharp as he searched for his target. After spending two months in solitary confinement, the noise and smells and lights were overwhelming. For so long he had hated the quiet, but now, a part of him wished he could go back to hiding.

"Got audio from Redwing about Selby. Sounds like he's heading to his sister's bar. You need backup?"

"No. I got it." Steve answered, looking over his shoulder nervously to make sure nobody was following him. He wore a grey hoodie over the top of his stealth suit, and a large backpack held his helmet and a gun. His jaw ticked as he clenched his backpack for dear life, wishing he had his shield. The bright lights of the Brass Monkey beckoned him inside, but every muscle in his body wanted to run. If it weren't for the ankle monitor around his leg, and the tracker sewn into his suit, Steve might have considered running away. He knew he needed to help the people he was trying to save, but he just wanted to go home to his wife and friends. Captain America might have had more honor, but the man wandering through Madripoor in the pouring rain only cared about paying for his crimes so he could be free.

"Steve, your two o'clock."

He turned in time to see a white haired man sneaking in through the back door of the bar and sighed, "Should I go in the main entrance or try and follow him?"

"I don't have eyes on the inside, but I can if you give me a few minutes."

"We might not have that kind of time. He could disappear underground. I'm going in after him." Steve ducked behind the dumpster and crouched, pulling the sweater over his head and shoving his gun in his belt. He peeked around to make sure nobody had seen him, then pulled his cowl over his head, latching it under his chin.

His beard was itchy against the thick strap, and his hair was too long and shaggy to be covered, but he wasn't going in without protection. Steve rolled away from the dumpster and snuck in the back door, disappearing from Sam's view. He looked both ways down the dark hallways, immediately used to the lack of light. The sound of laughter echoed from down the hallway, while the thudding base came from the opposite direction, telling Steve which way he didn't want to go.

As he reached the back room, Steve saw the guards before they noticed him. He quickly grabbed one by the neck, using the first guard to kick his feet up and smash the second into the wall, knocking him out while he choked out the first man. When they finally fell, Steve stood still against the wall, looking towards the door as the voices came closer. The man's voice had a British accent, but it was deep and gruff. He leaned out the door, looking around, but Steve did well blending into the darkness, so Selby returned to his sister and closed the door.

Steve knelt down and positioned his phone by the door, recording their conversation to send back to Ross. Pressing his hand to his ear, he asked Sam, "You getting all this?"

"I'll send the coordinates to the prisoners to Ross."

"Now all I gotta do is take him out." Steve grabbed the phone and took a few steps away, pressing himself into the corner of the hallway until he disappeared into the background. He stood frozen in place for another twenty minutes until Selby emerged with a briefcase in one hand and a gun held low in the other. Steve slowly followed until they reached the bar, and the man vanished into the crowd. "Shit." Steve muttered before being stuck in the back with a barstool. The whole crowd shrieked as three men approached Steve, almost as massive as him. He looked around, unable to find Selby again, but when the first man dared to strike Steve, he grabbed the man's fist and bent his arm until it snapped.

Crying in pain, the first man fell back and the other two drew their guns at Steve, but he swept the legs out from one while rolling away from the other's gunfire, "Sam, I've lost him, where's he gone?"

"Heading south, want me to neutralize?"

"Not yet, I wanna try and do it quietly!" Steve yelled, pushing through the bar patrons who weren't nearly alarmed enough being in the same room as a shooting. When he emerged into the street, several armed guards took notice of him, and he nodded in greeting. He began to walk quickly, realizing the guards were following him, "Still heading south?"

"He's in the market."

"Great." Steve grumbled, annoyed that his target was taking the chase into public. He walked faster, then ducked behind a fish tank, allowing the man and woman following him to keep moving in an attempt to see where he'd gone. Steve scanned the crowd, noticing Selby's blonde hair retreating towards the bay. Realizing no one was following him any longer, Steve began to stalk the man towards the docks.

Finally, when Selby couldn't go any farther without falling into the ocean, he turned and aimed his gun at Steve, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I heard you talking to your sister about the sex tracking ring. You're going to prison." Steve said evenly, holding both of his hands up to show he didn't have a weapon, "Put the gun down. We can do this the easy way."

"Who sent you?"

"The families of the people you've kidnapped. I'm going to get them home safe." Selby cocked the gun and Steve sighed, taking a step closer, "I'd rather take you alive, but I get my freedom whether I bring you in alive or dead. I don't want to kill you, but I will."

Selby pulled the trigger, but Steve was too fast, ducking and bowling the man into the water. He wrestled the gun from the man's hand, throwing it as far into the bay as he could before wrapping his arm around Selby's neck. The man choked, "I'm just trying to support my family."

"Yeah, well you picked a hell of a way to support them" Steve growled as he squeezed tighter before grabbing the man's hair and yanking it to the side forcefully, snapping Selby's neck.

He pushed the corpse back up onto the dock before dragging himself out of the water, stumbling to his feet and looking down. He snapped a photo of the body and sent it to Ross as he panted. He'd killed people before, but not like this. He could have shot this man from a distance. He could have poisoned him, or held his neck until he went to sleep, but something in the back of Steve's mind reminded him how desperate he was to finish the mission, and suddenly he'd snapped his target's neck.

"You got him?" Sam asked, and Steve thought his friend's voice sounded sad. Steve looked up and saw Redwing and nodded, "Yeah, I took care of him."

There was a moment of silence before Sam's voice answered, "I'll be there soon to help you with the body."

Before Steve could answer, a bullet struck him and he went down hard, collapsing onto Selby's body. Sam's panicked cries fell on deaf ears as blood began to seep through his dark blonde hair into his beard from the side of his helmet.