March 10th, 1944 -- London, England

"Do you think he has any idea?"

AJ smirked at Steve, feeling rather confident in that moment. "No clue." The duo walked down the long hall that led to their private quarters. Howard and the Howling Commandos were gathered in a small area, waiting for them to arrive. "He's a bit pouty about it too. Barely even gave me a goodbye kiss earlier." She said, her lips forming in a pout.

Steve chuckled. "Buck always tried to make a big deal out of my birthday back home." He told AJ as they stopped briefly in the hallway. "One year he took me to Coney Island and," Steve paused a moment to laugh, shaking his head. "I didn't think it was possible for me to puke so much."

AJ grinned. "Well, we can't give him Coney Island. But hopefully he'll enjoy this little get together." Bucky had made her birthday so special, a nice picnic with just the two of them, she wanted to do the same for him. It wasn't a picnic, and it wouldn't be just the two of them, but AJ hoped he'd enjoy time with friends. Thanks to some strings being pulled, they were stationed in London for the next three days and Howard had smuggled in some of the finest scotch AJ had ever tasted along with quite a few cigars for the Howling Commandos -- shenanigans were bound to happen as they celebrated the fact that twenty seven years ago, James Buchanan Barnes was born.

Steve smiled and nodded his head as they continued to walk. AJ watched him from the corner of her eye as they neared the door. "Is uh," He began to rub his jaw awkwardly. "I mean, we're in London so uh, I uh, figure," AJ chuckled as he stammered, causing Steve to shake his head, breathing out air from his nose as he stopped walking, slumping his head down as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Is Peggy coming?"

She smiled. "Took long enough for you to get that one out." AJ teased. Steve rolled his eyes as he stood straight again. "Yes, Peggy is coming." She answered him, watching as his face lit up. "She's a very vital part of my plan." AJ confessed as she moved her hand to push open the door, but Steve was faster than her and opened the door for her to walk through. "Such a gentleman." she chuckled, seeing that Steve seemed mighty chipper now. They walked into the corridor and AJ smiled when she saw Howard and the rest of the Howling Commandos decorating the room with what little they had.

Dum-Dum and Jim Morita set up the makeshift poker table while Howard somehow managed to create a private bar area out of a few boxes and chairs.

"So what is the plan?" Steve asked AJ.

AJ opened her mouth, but the sound of grunting caused her to pause, looking over in the direction of the now set up poker table. "I get why Addie has this nice of a set up obviously," Dum-Dum said with a huff as he walked over to Steve and AJ, motioning around the room. "But you'd think Cap's actual team would get this kind of treatment too. But nope; we're stuck sleeping with all the other stinkin' soldiers."

AJ's brow arched up, looking up at Dum-Dum. "Are you suggesting that I'm getting special treatment because I'm a woman, soldier?" She kept her mouth in a thin line, trying to look as intimidating as she possibly could.

Dum-Dum squared his shoulders, standing taller as he shook his head. "No ma'am." He apologized. "I understand why you get these privileges. You're the brain; I'm the brawn. I just think that uh," He stammered, trying to think of something to say that would get him out of trouble. "I think that Stark here should be slumming it with the soldiers." He said causing the room to laugh.

"Hey!" Howard said, pulling a face. "I'm the brain too. I deserve special treatment as well."

AJ smiled, touching Dum-Dums arm lightly. "It's alright, Dugan. I'm sure if you asked nicely, Steve would surely trade places with you for the night."

Dum-Dum looked to Steve and raised his brows in hope. "Not a chance."

It wasn't that Steve didn't want to sleep with the rest of the soldiers or that he selfishly wanted his own space -- because he didn't. He'd much rather be with his team. But AJ had a feeling that Steve wanted to stay close to her. To be near her in case something bad happened to protect her. And yes, Bucky was with her every night, but there was a point where he had to leave to get back to the barracks before the sun rose to keep from being caught -- while Bucky was gone, Steve was still near.

AJ grabbed Steves arm, moving him away from Dum-Dum. "Peggy is our way of getting Bucky here." She said quietly as they walked over to where Howard was pouring a drink. "He's likely sulking somewhere and she's going to smack him upside the head and tell him to come find me."

"How are we going to know when he's on the way?" Steve asked AJ only to turn his head when the door opened. A smile formed on his face when he saw Peggy walk into the room.

"He's looking in the labs for you." She told AJ. "I had one of the scientist placed there to send him here." Peggy said, walking up to AJ and Steve. "Steven." She said formally while looking up at him.

Steve smiled sheepishly. "Agent Carter."

AJ looked down at the ground, trying to hide her amused grin. Oh those two. So foolishly smitten with the other and not knowing how to express it. "I'll be in the hallway waiting for him. You all try and set up the rest of the decorations before he gets here." She said, receiving a firm nod from Steve and a soft smile from Peggy before she stepped away from the two. AJ walked forward, her eyes catching Howard and the rest of the men in the room. "And don't be too loud." She ordered and then smiled, "This is a surprise party."

"Yes ma'am." The Howling Commandos said. Howard on the other hand waved at her, brushing her off as he poured drinks.

AJ paced up and down the hallway, wringing her hand anxiously, for the next ten minutes before Bucky rounded the corner. She held back a smile of amusement when she saw him making his way down the hallway; his head was hung low and his shoulders were slumped, hands hidden in his pockets as he walked. He was still pouting. AJ straightened the skirt of her dress and walked forward, high heels clicking against the concrete floors causing Bucky to look up in her direction.

"Sergeant Barnes." AJ smiled as she stopped walking, letting him walk the rest of the distance to her. Bucky smiled softly upon hearing her voice, his body relaxing once he stood in front of her. "I didn't expect to see you until later."

"Well, I hope I'm not disappointing you by being here now." Bucky said, his eyes scanning the area before he saw that no one else was around. When his gaze settled back on AJ, his hand moved to her face, fingers brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

AJ smiled, letting her head lean into his hand as it cupped her cheek. She smiled softly, looking up at him. "You could never disappoint me, Buck." AJ said in a whisper, moving up to meet his lips in a kiss. His lips formed into a smile against hers, arm looping around her waist to pull her closer.

He held her tight to him, hand threading through her hair as AJ took a few steps backwards, Bucky following after her with his lips never leaving hers for too long as their long kiss turned into a series of heated kisses. Bucky moved his hands to cup AJ's face, their pace slowing as they now stood in place, no longer walking while kissing.

"Actually, that's a lie." She mumbled against his lips before pulling away causing Bucky to look at her in confusion. "I'd be disappointed in you if you, I don't know, sulked around camp all day because you thought I forgot your birthday." She smiled.

Bucky raised his brows, mouth opening slightly, speechless for a moment.

"Did you really think I didn't know that it is your birthday?" She smirked, making Bucky let out a breathy laugh as he shrugged his shoulders, arms moving to loop around her waist as he pulled her closer to him.

"You seemed otherwise occupied." Bucky said, still smiling as they moved in a swaying motion.

"That's because I was busy planning, darling." She chuckled as they stood in front of the door that their friends were hiding behind. AJ nodded her head towards the door, motioning for Bucky to open it. He raised his brow while smirking before pressing his hand against the door to open it.

"Surprise!" Everyone shouted, including AJ. She watched as Bucky looked around the room full of his friends and laughed.

"Happy birthday, old man!" Gabe said as he walked up to Bucky and pulled him into a hug.

Bucky continued to laugh, eyes scanning the room to see what AJ and his friends had set up and then turned to look back AJ. "You're an angel, Frosty." He told her, walking forward and reaching for her hands.

She chuckled, squeezing his hands. "Go have your fun." She smiled. Bucky shook his head, smiling wide at AJ. "Oh, and you don't have drills in the morning thanks to your best friend being Captain America so stay up as late as you please." AJ said as she pulled him into the room, over to the poker table. "Go easy on him boys," AJ looked to the men in the room. "He owes me a date and I won't be having you all taking his money tonight."

"Oh, where's the fun in that!" Howard said with a boo.

AJ rolled her eyes at Howard and moved up on her toes to press a kiss to Bucky's cheek. "Have fun, Buck." She told him before heading in Peggy's direction. But before she could get to her friend, her hand was being grabbed at as she was being pulled back. She looked over her shoulder, seeing Bucky was the one tugging at her.

"You're not staying?" He asked, looking disappointed.

She smiled, turning to face him. "I'll stay for a bit."

"Stay forever." The words stumbled out of his mouth causing AJ to smile. "I mean...don't go." He breathed out, pulling her closer to him and then whispered in her ear, "As much as I love Steve and the guys...you're the person I want sitting beside me tonight."

AJ chuckled, shaking her head. "I have a terrible poker face, Buck." She reminded him.

He shook his head, disagreeing with her. "Stay." He whispered. "I want to spend my birthday with you."

AJ bit down on her lower lip, unable to say no to him. "Fine." She agreed.

"I suppose that means I am staying as well." Peggy walked up to them.

"The more the merrier, Agent Carter." Falsworth called from across the room. "You can sit next to me and be my good luck charm." He smirked, sitting down at the poker table they were all now surrounding.

Peggy raised her brow as she looked to Falsworth. "How about you deal me in and I take all your money instead?" Falsworth blushed and the rest of the room laughed while Howard served them all drinks. And Steve Rogers stared at Peggy Carter like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes on.

The night ended with Steve walking Peggy back to her private quarters and Jim Morita being carried back to the bunkers with the rest of the Howling Commandos who would surely have a terrible hangover the next morning and Howard singing loudly to himself as AJ and Bucky headed back to her room.

"Thank you," Bucky said as AJ kept her arm wrapped around his middle, keeping him from toppling over from the one too many glasses of scotch he had been served tonight by Howard. "You are the best woman to ever walk this earth."

AJ chuckled, opening the door to her bedroom. "What an honor." She teased as she led them into her room, kicking the door shut with the heel of her shoe.

"And smart," Bucky added. "And funny," AJ helped him sit down on the bed and bent down to untie his boots. "And honest, and beautiful, and the best." He continued on, back falling against her mattress.

"The best you say?" She chuckled as she tugged off his boots.

"You have my heart, Frosty." He declared causing AJ to stand up, looking down at him gazing up at her. "You do." Bucky said, moving his hand out for her to take. "You're the only person who will ever have it." AJ bit down on her lower lip, looking away from Bucky. "Did I scare you away?" He asked, his voice sounding like a wounded child's.

AJ looked back to Bucky and grabbed at his hands, pulling him up so he was sitting again. "You could never scare me away, Buck." She promised him, hand caressing his cheek.

"Good." He smiled, a goofy smile that AJ loved. "Lets sleep." Bucky suggested in his drunken state. "I want to hold you in my arms."

AJ chuckled. "You really are a sap when you're drunk, James Buchanan Barnes."

It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. All it took was AJ curling into his side to have Bucky's body completely relax, making it easy for him to fall asleep. She stayed awake, one eye open all night to make sure Bucky didn't get sick, listening to him mumble incoherently in his sleep.

Maybe it was because she had a glass or two of scotch, but AJ could have sworn she heard the word love being mumbled by Bucky. She snuggled into his side, hand resting against his chest as she listened to him breathing and never wanting to let him go.

Adelyn Juliet Frost was in love for the first time in her life and it didn't terrify her. It felt right.

_

August 16th, 2015 -- Upper State New York, Avengers Compound

"A little harder." AJ told him as Steve rubbed out the knots in her neck. He sighed, pushing his fingers into the tissue of her skin. He'd been thinking about Peggy a lot. Part of him wanted to the take the quinjet to D.C to visit her, the other part of him told him he should stay back and take care of the new Avengers compound. He had soldiers to train; he had his team. He had been locked away here for the last few days; ever since coming home from eastern Europe with Wanda, Vision, Sam, Rhodey, Nat, and AJ.

Hydra, using the destroyed Ultron Sentries from the Battle of Sokovia, built a giant robot; Ultimo that attacked a small village. Thankfully Steve and his team had managed to stop the robot. The team was growing. Wanda was a wonderful addition, as were Vision and Rhodey. And Sam -- Steve always knew Sam was a good fighter and a great attribute to the team.

"You need an ice bath." Steve told AJ when she let out a little whine when he touched a certain part on her neck.

"Yeah, yeah." She brushed him off, rolling her neck and giving him better access. Steve huffed, pushing down hard on her skin causing AJ to pull away from him. "Dammit, Steve." She laughed, surprised by his roughness. "Thor's hammer is more gentle than you."

"Sorry," He mumbled, stepping away from AJ. "I got a lot on my mind."

AJ turned in the chair she was sitting in and looked to Steve. "Any news on Rumlow?"

"Just the usual." Steve said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "He wants to destroy the Avengers."

AJ smirked. "Who doesn't these days?" Steve's lips twitched up in amusement as he shook his head. AJ squinted her eyes at him, the way she always did when she was studying him. "What's really on your mind, Rogers?" She asked, somehow knowing that it wasn't Rumlow on his mind.

Steve rolled his eyes. "Nothing, Frost. "

"Liar." She replied, sitting up from her seat.

Steve sighed. "It's nothing, Jay. Just...feeling nostalgic."

"Peggy." AJ didn't have to guess. She already knew who Steve was feeling nostalgic about. "You know we can go visit her."

He knew that.

But he'd been gone too long. What if she didn't recognize him anymore? It was hard for Steve to see Peggy in that state. It was hard still being in love with the woman when she lay sickly in bed, quickly forgetting the life she had lived. She was a legend and couldn't even remember it. It broke Steve's heart.

"Steve?" AJ broke him away from his thoughts.

Steve shook his head. "Too much going on here." He said, his excuse lame. "I need to train more with Wanda; she needs more field time."

"I can do that with her."

"And Vision,"

"Let Natasha handle Vision,"

"-And you ,"

AJ raised her brows at the last thing he said. "Me?" She echoed his tone. "What about me?" Steve bit the inside of his cheek, not wanting to answer. But AJ wasn't going to let it go. "Steve?"

Steve exhaled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You're not taking care of yourself." AJ blinked, surprised by his words. "You're off your game; your powers are back to normal but you're not relying on them when you should be. Not to mention that you're refusing to take your ice baths -- you know those help you heal faster, yet after each mission you don't let yourself heal."

AJ frowned. "Steve, you spend far too much time worrying about me."

"You're my best friend." He argued. "It's my job to worry about you." AJ rolled her eyes at his words causing Steve to raise his brow.

AJ sighed, walking over to Steve. "Stevie." She said his name as gently as she could. "I love that you're looking out for me. But you don't have to. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

"But you aren't. " It was true. Steve had noticed it more and more. AJ would push herself too hard while training with Natasha and would sleep for hours afterwards. It was almost impossible to wake her up too.

AJ ran her fingers through her hair, looking down at the ground. "Get the ice bath ready." She said, looking back up at Steve.

He raised his brows in surprise, but AJ motioned for him to go. God, if he had known that all it would have taken for AJ to take care of herself was a guilt ridden speech from him, he would have done it sooner. "Come on," He told her, motioning for AJ to follow him.

When they got to the labs, the bath was prepared and AJ pulled off her shirt. He didn't look away in time to avoid seeing her, but if he hadn't, he wouldn't have seen the bruises all over her body. "Jesus, Jay." He said, walking over to her to examine her bruises.

She chuckled, stepping into the ice bath in her underwear and sports bra. "I was thrown into a building, Steve. What were you expecting?" She sunk into the bath, letting out a satisfied sigh at the feeling. AJ looked up at Steve who stared down at her, still worried. "At least the cuts have healed." She told him, lifting her arm up to show Steve that the the only thing on her body were bruises.

He frowned. "What's going on, AJ?" He asked her.

AJ didn't answer him, she only sunk down further into the tub until she was fully submerged, the water turning into a slate of ice. Steve shook his head in frustration, knowing she was doing that so she wouldn't have to talk to him about why she wasn't taking care of herself.

Steve moved to sit down in the chair next to the bath, twiddling his thumbs as he waited for AJ to emerge. Maybe AJ was right. Maybe he should go visit Peggy.

Stop using me as an excuse, he could practically hear AJ saying. Go see her.

Peggy was one of the reasons he agreed to move to D.C., well, her and AJ. And when they moved back to New York, Steve had sworn he'd continue to visit. But each visit got harder. It had been months since he last saw her. It kept him up at night, wondering if Peggy, the small part of her that remembered him, knew he wasn't there. Was she angry with him? Heartbroken? He wanted more time with Peggy but...she didn't have much time left. They had missed their chance, they'd never have their dance.

"Steve?"

He looked away from his hands to where AJ was emerging from the now mostly melted ice bath. Her hands grabbed the sides of the tub, slowly sitting up. Steve went to stand behind AJ to see how her back looked now. The bruises were completely gone, no hint of them ever being there. "I still don't know how that all works." He admitted, holding out his hand for AJ to grab. "But I'm glad it does."

AJ grabbed his hand and let him pull her out. "Did I give you enough time to make up your mind?" She asked, stepping out of the bath.

Steve rolled his eyes, grabbing a robe for AJ to put on. "I can't leave the compound, Jay. Too much needs to be done."

"Fine," She put on the robe. "But I'm leaving to go see her." Steve blinked at her words. "Flight leaves in an hour — you're welcome to come."

"Jay," Steve sighed. But she walked away from him, not giving him a chance to make another excuse.

Damn the woman. He knew she was right, he knew he needed to go see Peggy. Because he didn't know how much time he had left with her and he was nowhere near ready to say goodbye.

"How long has it been?" Sam asked AJ as she got the quinjet ready, her mind scattered as she tried to focus on what was in front of her. But she wasn't going to ignore Sam's question. He was kind enough to come along for moral support, she at least owed him an answer.

"Not since before Ultron." She answered.

"That long?" He blew air out his nose. "No wonder he's been so,"

"Broody?" AJ smiled, looking over at Sam as he sat in the cockpit with her.

He chuckled, "My word was going to be a bit meaner."

AJ laughed, shaking her head. "Well, he's got five minutes to make up his mind or I'm going by myself." She said after sobering up. It was nice having Sam around, he always knew how to make her laugh even in her worst moods.

"You still want me to come if Steve doesn't show?"

AJ thought on it. "Company would be nice but I don't know how much fun you'd have waiting for me." She told him. "I don't know how long I will be. There's a lot I want to catch Peggy up on."

Sam stretched his legs in the cockpit, moving his hands to rest behind his neck. "You mean that you want to talk to her about Bucky." He said with a little huff.

AJ looked over at Sam, narrowing her eyes slightly at him. "Do you have a problem with that?" She asked.

"No judgement," Sam started to say. "I just don't understand it."

"Understand what?"

Sam sighed, moving his hands to rest in his lap. "Why you're holding on so tightly to him."

She tilted her head as she looked at Sam. How could he not know? "You know why." AJ told him. Because I love him. "What I don't understand is why you have such a problem with Bucky." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Um, I don't know, Jay. Maybe because the guy tried to kill me." He stated.

"Hydra," AJ started to say only to have Sam cut her off.

"Brainwashed him, yeah. I know. So that begs the question, how much of the Bucky you know is left? You don't know what you're getting yourself into. He might not be the guy you were in love with -- he could be the man who nearly choked you to death, not once -- but twice." AJ closed her eyes, trying to keep her anger at bay. "Look, I'm saying this because I care about you; you deserve better than to hold onto the memory of a ghost."

"He's not a ghost." AJ clenched her jaw. "He's alive and as long as he's breathing, I'm not letting go." She turned in the chair to face Sam. "Why are you even helping us try and find Bucky when you clearly don't want him to be found."

"I never said I didn't want him to be found." Sam told her. "I don't think he wants to be found. Do you know how hard it is to come back mission after mission having to tell you that there's no trace of him? You think I like seeing your hope get crushed? I don't. Each mission that I don't bring him back to you and Steve, I get angrier. At him. Because he's the one hurting you and there's nothing I can do about it."

"Why does it matter to you?" AJ snapped at him.

"Because you guys are my friends." Sam reminded her. "And I'm tired of disappointing you." He said in a sigh, shaking his head as he looked down at his hands.

She frowned upon hearing his words. "You're not disappointing me, Sam." AJ said in a soft tone. "And please know that I am so thankful for all you do." Sam looked up from his hands, his eyes landing on AJ. "You've been a good friend to both me and Steve." She told him. "I'm sorry I snapped at you; it's just when it comes to Bucky,"

"You get protective." Sam finished for her. "Trust me, I know." He said, smiling shortly after. "I didn't know the guy but from the stories Steve as told me, I can understand why you fell for him. Kinda reminds me of myself, to be honest." He added in a cocky tone causing AJ to laugh. "Which is why I'm surprised you haven't fallen in love with me yet."

AJ laughed again, shaking her head. "Sorry, please forgive me for that, Sam." She teased. "How could I not fall in love with you the minute we first met?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I won't hold it against you, Frost." Sam told her. "Maybe I'm just too much for you to handle."

"That must be it." She smiled.

The sound of footsteps coming from behind them caused both AJ and Sam to look over their shoulder, seeing Steve walk up to them. "Ready?" He asked, sounding nervous.

AJ and Sam smiled at one another before AJ looked at Steve. "Buckle up."

Soon, they were landing in D.C. Steve spent as much time with Peggy as he could before she fell asleep three hours into their visit. AJ had sat with him for the first half hour before giving the two privacy, listening to Peggy sass him for not visiting for a few days. That caused AJ to frown. Peggy thought it had been days when it had been much longer. AJ hadn't gotten to talk to Peggy about Bucky, but she didn't mind. What was most important was getting Steve here for a visit.

When they got back into the quinjet after the visit, the sky was the dark and the stars shine above them. Steve sat in the cockpit next to AJ, and Sam sat in the back.

"Thank you, Jay." Steve said quietly.

She smiled, reaching her free hand out to lay on Steve's arm. "Of course."

_

October 27th, 2015 - Avengers Tower -- Manhattan, New York

"Tony?"

He looked up from book in front of him; The Life and Times of Industrialist Howard Stark, closing the book as AJ walked into the room, holding a copy of the book herself. He gave her a soft smile, shaking his head a little. "I saw your preface." Tony got up from his seat and walked over to AJ. " Very touching ." He said, his tone somewhat mocking. But AJ simply rolled her eyes and playfully swatted at Tony's chest.

"I worked very hard on that." She said with a smile. "I think I did him justice." He couldn't help but let out a tiny scoff. AJ narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"

Tony sighed. "You did justice to that man he was when you were alive." He told her honestly. "You painted him to be this...theatrical, happy going, kind scientist with a heart of gold who believed anything was possible when in fact," He stopped himself from saying anything else, knowing it would only upset AJ. "That just wasn't the man I knew."

Howard Stark was tough, he was hard on Tony, he wasn't loving. And even though Tony understood why he was all those things, it didn't stop him from wondering if maybe he was the reason his father ended up the way he did. Hard-headed, stubborn, mean.

"I'm sorry," Tony looked to AJ, seeing she was now frowning. He felt guilt fill him, knowing he had upset her. "I'm sorry that you never got to know that Howard that I knew. Because I think the two of you would find that you two have quite a lot in common. Not just the big brains and the giant ego," She said causing Tony to smirk. "But you two have the same heart."

Tony was quiet for a moment, taking in everything AJ had just said to him. His mother spoke kindly of his father as well, telling Tony stories about when they first met -- how she had managed to steal the heart of a notoriously known playboy. He loved the stories, or perhaps he just loved his mother telling them to him. But knowing those stories only caused Tony to have more anger towards his father.

"I wish there was a way I could know him again." He admitted, looking over at AJ. "Or relive some of the good memories, or maybe yours." He said with a little smile. Tony then scratched the back of his neck, debating on sharing something with AJ that he had been working on. "I uh, I've actually been working on a theory of sorts. A project in the making." He said causing AJ to look at him with a smile, waiting for him to continue. "It's a way we can relive moments. Of course it'd mostly be used for soldiers with PTSD to try and help with their trauma."

AJ raised her brows. "How so?"

"Binarily Augmented Retro Framing." Tony told her. "Or, as an acronym; B.A.R.F."

AJ chuckled. "You might want to work on that."

He smiled. "It'd be an implant -- in your head or even an implant in something as simple as a pair a glasses that connects the user to their hippocampus, allowing the device to find a certain traumatic memory and alter it before projecting that memory onto an external infrastructure."

"Wow." AJ breathed out.

"The user would be in control; you'd be able to alter the projection while re-experiencing it and, with hope, be able to overcome the traumatic experience."

AJ stood there for a long moment, simply looking at Tony. "That's brilliant." She finally spoke. "Tony, this could help so many of our veterans suffering from PTSD. You have to do this."She said in excitement causing Tony to chuckle. "Seriously! Tony, do you understand how many people you'd be helping?"

Tony looked at her for a long moment. "You included." He said. AJ tilted her head as she looked at him, "You'd be my test dummy."

"No," AJ shook her head. "No, Tony -- you don't need my help on this."

"Don't you want to relive that moment, Adelyn?" He asked her. "Make Bucky stay?"

She sighed, shoulders raising and falling. "Of course, I do." AJ breathed out. "But,"

"But nothing." Tony said, pressing his hand to her shoulder. "Either you do this with me, or it doesn't happen. And then you will be the reason that our veterans won't get the help they deserve. How can you live with yourself, Adelyn?" He teased.

AJ narrowed his eyes at Tony with a little smile. "Okay." She agreed.

Tony grinned. "Good." He told her. "We start in the morning...partner."

AJ chuckled and nodded her head. Tony was sure that he'd drive AJ crazy and at the end of this project she might actually hate him -- but he saw the way her eyes lit up when he mentioned B.A.R.F -- he really needed to find a new name for it, and it was a look he hadn't seen AJ have in a while.

She needed to get back to her scientific roots, and Tony would help lead the way. She worked well with his father; who's to say she wouldn't work well with him as well?