Eyes glued to the scene playing out before her, AJ felt her nerves spike. Sending Steve out alone was a good idea, no matter how strongly she protested it. If Steve went for the chopper, Sam, AJ, and Bucky had time to search for the quinjet, find its location, and get to it before Tony noticed they were even there. She looked across the way towards the parking garage where Wanda and Clint were waiting for a signal from Steve. She hated that she had gotten Clint involved in all of this, but they needed the numbers. Laura would never speak to AJ again if anything bad happened to Clint — like, getting arrested for aiding and abetting a wanted criminal. AJ looked over briefly at Bucky who stood by her side, his focus solely on Steve as he spoke with Tony and Rhodey, and now King T'Challa.

"Anything?" AJ asked Sam, feeling anxious. T'Challa wanted Bucky's head — AJ refused to let him anywhere near the man she loved.

Sam shook his head, still using Redwing to scan the area for the quinjet.

AJ focused back on Steve, seeing Natasha had now joined Tony, Rhodey, and T'Challa in trying to reason with Steve. She frowned; out of everyone, AJ thought Natasha would take her and Steve's side on this issue. But after the bomb went off in Vienna, things clearly had changed. AJ didn't blame her for choosing Tony's side. Jordan's life had been put in danger when the bomb went off — but if AJ could just talk to Natasha and get her to see that Bucky wasn't to blame for the attack, that there were other serious things at play going on, surely she'd see why they were all risking their freedom.

Getting to the other Winter Soldiers before the doctor was their main goal here. If that hack psychiatrist was able to trigger Bucky, he was likely able to trigger the other soldiers as well.

A world with multiple lethal assassins running around at his will? That was extremely dangerous.

A selfish thought crossed her mind. Running. Running away this very second with Bucky. She frowned; even if she and Bucky could get away without getting detected, where would they go? The doctor could always send the other winter soldiers to search the world trying to find them — not to mention Tony would be on the hunt too. She sighed, knowing Tony wouldn't let her leave without a fight.

Tony cupped his hands, calling someone, then a figure in a blue and red suit burst into the tense standoff out of nowhere, managing to somehow get Steve's shield away from him, his wrists bound together in some sort of restraint. It was a man in a sleek red and blue suit, with a style mirroring Tony's iron suit. AJ swallowed hard, listening through comms to hear what was being said. The man spoke — AJ's eyes widened; he couldn't be more than a teenager. Tony had brought a teenager into this dangerous situation. She looked over at Sam again in question, who shook his head, already knowing what she was about to ask. He didn't know who this kid was either.

"Got it," Sam said with a smirk before telling Steve the location.

With help from one of Clint's arrows, Steve managed to get out of the restraints, calling on Lang for help next as AJ, Bucky, and Sam ran full speed in the direction of where the quinjet was hidden.

She kept her focus on the path in front of her, only briefly looking down at the tarmac where a fight was breaking out -- Natasha against Scott, T'Challa against Steve. She lost sight of Tony, who was in pursuit of Wanda and Clint. And then suddenly there was a flash of red and blue moving against the large windows of the terminal.

"What the hell is that?" Bucky asked, seeing it too.

"Everybody's got a gimmick now." Sam grumbled.

Glass shattered above them and suddenly Sam was off his feet, his body pushed roughly into AJ's, sending them both falling sideways. AJ heard the clash of Bucky's metal fist slamming into something, her head whipping in the direction of the noise as Sam helped her to her feet.

"You have a metal arm?" The voice of the teenager said excitedly as he held Bucky's fist back without any difficulty. "That's awesome, dude!"

Sam took a running start before his wings popped out and flew at the kid, leaving Bucky and AJ alone to get to the quinjet.

"That was a kid." Bucky said as AJ tugged at his flesh hand, urging him to run. "Strong enough to stop my arm at full force."

"Kid must eat his veggies." AJ snarked as they ran. "That or he's jacked on some serious steroids."

"Super soldier serum?" Bucky mused.

"Not from me." AJ said back, seeing Sam up ahead. No matter what he did, this kid was still standing. Maybe he did have super soldier serum. If Hydra had managed to get their hands on Erskine's notes and created their own version of the Project Rebirth -- without AJ's part -- someone else could have easily created the serum on their own as well. But to test it on a kid? He couldn't be more than fourteen -- fifteen tops. Why use him? And then AJ thought of Steve. Not the Steve she knew today. The scrawny little kid from Brooklyn who was always sticking his nose into trouble. Not the perfect soldier -- but a good man.

Bucky pulled AJ away from her thoughts when he grabbed one of the metal signs near them, ripping it from the ground, and threw it with all his might at the kid before he grabbed AJ, pulling her behind a metal pole for cover. When they didn't hear the sound of collision, Bucky slowly peaked around the pole to see what had happened.

"Hey buddy, I think you lost this." The kid said and Bucky quickly threw himself over AJ as the sign came barreling back at them, cutting the pole clean in half. AJ felt herself being pulled up and looked up to see Sam kick the kid in the back, sending him falling to the ground. But midair, the kid flipped and shot something from his wrist at Sam, damaging his falcon gear. He landed hard, crashing into a booth before hitting the floor. AJ and Bucky ran in a sprint when Sam was pressed against the glass balcony, wrists bound to the pole. "Those wings carbon fiber?" AJ heard the kid ask.

Sam looked at his wrists. "Is this stuff coming out of you?" He asked in disgust.

The kid ignored Sams' question. "That would explain the rigidity-flexibility ratio. Which, gotta say, that's awesome man." Not only was this kid super strong, he was smart as well.

"I don't know if you've been in a fight before but there's usually not this much talking." Sam said.

"Alright, sorry -- my bad." The kid said before lunging at Sam. But before he could get him, Bucky ran in front of Sam, taking the blow from the kid as both men fell through the now shattered balcony to the first floor of the terminal.

AJ looked to the boy, seeing that he hadn't sensed her presence yet -- that or he didn't care. She looked down at Bucky and Sam who were covered in what appeared to be some sort of replica of a spiderweb.

"Guys, look, I'd love to keep this up." The kid said from above. "But I've only got one job here today and I've got to impress Mr. Stark, so," He then looked down at AJ. "You're gonna have to come with me, Ms. Frost." He thrust his arm out, wrist pointed to AJ and she felt herself not knowing what to do to defend herself. He's just a kid, how could she use her powers against him? Thankfully, Redwing didn't give her a chance -- in a blink of an eye, the kid's wrist was bound as well, and Redwing was dragging him out of the large glass window and away from AJ. She sighed in relief, glad she didn't have to fight against a pre-teen.

"You couldn't have done that earlier?" AJ heard Bucky asking Sam as she hurried down the stairs to where they were trapped to the floor.

"I hate you." Sam grumbled just as AJ got to them.

She ignored the comment, and instead leaned over Sam and moved her hands to the webs trapping him. He was bound more tightly than Bucky, his whole upper half sticky with webs. They were in fact spiderwebs. "How the hell," She muttered.

"You able to get us out of these?" Sam asked.

She looked over to Bucky who only had his metal arm webbed to the floor. He didn't look nearly as uncomfortable as Sam did.

"Yeah," AJ said, making a face as she looked down at Sam. "But you're going to be cold afterwards." Sam groaned but nodded his head, allowing AJ to use her powers.

She pressed down on the webs, turning them to ice. Sam shivered as AJ's fist slammed against the ice, breaking him free. AJ then turned to go help Bucky, listening to Sam take in a few shallow breaths as he tried to warm himself up.

He looked up at her as she leaned over him, her hair falling in her face as she pressed her hands to his metal arm. "Hydra raised the temperature levels in your arm to heat up to a degree that could withstand my ice." She reminded him, thinking back to D.C when she tried to freeze his metal arm before knowing who he truly was. "Once the webs turn to ice, your arm should automatically activate."

"Last time I did that you went flying into a car."

She huffed out a laugh. "No cars around here, Buck." AJ said softly.

Bucky's free hand moved to AJ's face, fingers pushing the hair out of her eyes. "I refuse to hurt you again, Frosty." She looked down at him with a soft smile, her heart warming at his words.

"That's all sweet and everything," Sam said. "Heartwarming, really -- but we got things we need to do." He reminded them. "So let's wrap this up."

AJ chuckled as Bucky groaned, his hand dropping from her face. AJ used her powers on Bucky's arm, the metal freezing instantly. Before the blast of heat from his arm could knock her over, Sam pulled her out of the way, both of them landing on the ground. Bucky quickly got up and moved to AJ, helping her up as Sam helped himself. Bucky's eyes searched for any injuries he may have caused her. "I'm okay." She assured Bucky. "Let's go help Steve."

Safely out of the airport, AJ sighed in relief when she saw Clint and Natasha running near Steve and Scott, Steve shouting for AJ, Bucky, and Sam to join them as the quinjet came to view. "Come on!" He shouted, the whole team together now and heading towards their getaway jet. They had made it -- all as a team.

Until the ground below them was cut in half.

The group stopped running, looking up in the sky. Vision. AJ huffed in frustration, seeing Tony had quite the advantage now.

"Captain Rogers," Vision addressed Steve. "I know you believe what you're doing is right." Tony appeared behind them with Natasha. "But for the collective good...you must surrender now." Rhodey flew in, dropping King T'Challa next to Tony and Natasha on the ground. The spider kid and Rhodey soon stood in their way of the jet as well. AJ watched as T'Challas looked in Bucky's direction, her fingers twitching as a cold mist left them, ready to defend Bucky.

"What do we do, Cap?" Sam asked what they were all thinking.

There were their friends -- their best friends. Once upon a time, they had been a family. And now? Face to face ready for a battle.

"We fight."

It's not what AJ wanted. But she'd follow Steve,s orders no matter what if it meant getting Bucky out of there safely.

Natasha was heading for her. AJ felt sick to her stomach at the idea of using her powers against Natasha, even while she wore the wrist guard to protect her from the damage. Tony, Rhodey, Spider-kid, and T'Challa all seemed to be wearing them. Natasha ran at AJ, probably already knowing AJ's next move before she did. She skidded to her knees, using her baton to slam against AJ's knee. She groaned as she toppled forward.

You can do this, a voice whispered in her head. Use your full power.

It distracted her and AJ took a blow to the back as Natasha came at her. "I don't want to do this, Adge," The red head said, pain in her tone as AJ let out a yelp of pain.

"Then stop!" AJ yelled as Natasha twisted her arm behind her back.

Natasha had always been better at AJ in combat. Both she and Clint had trained her, but she was no match up against Natasha.

"You know I can't!"

Suddenly Natasha was tackled, AJ only seeing the back of Clint's quiver as her former C.O's fell to the floor.

AJ looked over to where she had last seen Bucky, knowing that T'Challa would go after him. Clint could handle Natasha for now.

AJ's eyes widened as she saw T'Challa throw Bucky into one of the shipping boxes, his hand going for Bucky's neck, claws extracted for the kill. But before he could strike, a red mist stopped his hand. AJ looked to see Wanda standing next to her, preventing T'Challa from killing Bucky.

"Go to him!" Wanda instructed AJ.

She didn't have to tell her twice.

AJ ran over to Bucky, helping him off the ground. "Come on," She told him, looking to try and find Steve. He was taking a few hits from the spider-kid, but managed to get the best of him.

"Jay," Bucky breathed out, grabbing her hand. His eyes were wide, and there was a question hanging off the tip of his tongue. But they didn't have time to stand around -- they needed to get to the jet.

"Buck, we gotta go!" She told him, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him in the direction of where she saw Steve heading last.

Hidden and with Steve, AJ made sure to keep close to Bucky. Not wanting to lose sight of him again.

"We gotta go." Bucky told Steve. "That guy's probably in Siberia by now."

Steve shook his head, looking up at the sky. "We got to draw out the flyers." He said, looking to Tony, Rhodey and Vision in the sky. "I'll take Vision."

"I got Tony. Bucky, you get the jet." AJ said, only to feel Bucky suddenly grip her arm tight, stopping her from leaving.

"No," Sam said over the comms. "You three get to the jet!" He ordered. "The rest of us aren't getting out of here."

"As much as I hate to admit it, if we're going to win this one," Clint said next. "Some of us might have to lose it."

"No!" AJ argued. "We're all going to get out of this together."

"You know this isn't the real fight, Jay."

"I'll be fine, Adge." Clint said, causing AJ's eyes to water. "I'll look after Wanda."

"What about your family?" AJ whispered.

"Tony's not that much of a dick." Clint said with a chuckle. "I'm sure i'll be able to have visitation -- hell, maybe even conjugal." He teased, causing AJ to let out a little laugh as she wiped away her tears. "Laura and I can finally even the numbers and have a little girl."

She glanced over to Steve who was watching her. AJ sighed, nodding her head and giving Steve the okay that she was on board with the plan.

Steve gave her a sad smile. "Alright, Sam. What's the play?"

"We need a diversion." Sam told them. "Something big."

"I've got something pretty big -- but I can't hold it for very long. On my signal -- the three of you run like hell." Scott said. "And if I tear myself in half, don't come back for me." He added dramatically.

Bucky looked to Steve and AJ in confusion. "He's gonna tear himself in half?"

"Not literally, right?" AJ asked.

"You sure about this, Scott?"

"I do it all the time." He said nonchalantly. "I mean...once, in a lab. Then I passed out." Scott said before chanting 'I'm the boss, i'm the boss, i'm the boss' to himself.

The ground rumbled and out of thin air, a giant Scott Lang appeared. Nearly as tall as the airport itself.

"Holy shit," AJ said under her breath, not believing what she was seeing. "How is that even possible?" She started to ask. "It shouldn't be possible -- what tech are you using, Scott?"

Bucky chuckled, AJ clearly lost in the science at that moment.

"I guess that's the signal." Steve said, mesmerized as well.

"Way to go, Tic Tac!" Sam laughed through comms.

As Scott began to throw and stomp on things, Bucky pulled AJ into a run, though her eyes remained focused on Scott. If only Howard were here to see this sort of tech. He'd go nuts!

Running towards the quinjet, AJ heard Scott say in a loud booming voice; "Wanna get to them? You gotta go through me." Before a crashing noise.

They were nearly to the quinjet when the building began to collapse. A red mist stopped it from hitting them, AJ looked over her shoulder while continuing to run and saw Wanda using her powers to hold the building upright. There was a loud sonic boom and suddenly Wanda was screaming. The red mist secured the building gone and the rubble falling on top of them. Bucky used his arm to shield AJ's head as they ran, just barely making it inside the hangar before the building collapsed. But standing in their way was Natasha.

She looked at both Steve and AJ sadly. "You're not going to stop."

"You know we can't." Steve told her.

Natasha sighed, lifting her arm. "I'm going to regret this." She said before firing. However, none of them were hit. T'Challa groaned in pain from behind them, being electrocuted. "Go," Natasha instructed them.

"Nat," AJ said softly, walking up to her friend.

T'Challa fought through the electrocution, trying to get to them.

"Go!" Natasha said more forcibly. There was no time for apologies; no time for goodbyes. They had to leave.

They ran into the quinjet, AJ quickly sitting down in the pilot's seat to get it started. She looked out the large window to see Natasha still keeping T'Challa from getting to them. "Ready?" AJ asked Bucky and Steve as she fiddled with the controls.

"Ready." Bucky and Steve both said as they held on during lift off.

The quinjet was finally up in the air, flying over the airport. "Clint's sure there's no trackers?" AJ asked, keeping her eye on the sky in front of her.

"That's what he said." Steve replied, going to sit in the co-pilot's seat.

AJ looked to the side window and saw Tony and Rhodey on their tail. Her hand forcing down a gear, the jet picking up speed. But they were still too close for comfort.

She blinked, seeing a white light coming from behind them aiming towards Sam who just nearly dodged it, the light hitting Rhodey instead sending him hurtling to the ground. She swallowed hard, knowing there was nothing she could to do -- both Tony and Sam flew in the direction of where Rhodey was falling.

And then they were simply dots to AJ up in the sky, flying the jet at full speed to get them the hell out of there.

x

"What's going to happen to your friends?" Bucky asked Steve quietly, knowing AJ was on the lower deck of the jet taking a moment for herself. Bucky knew how hard it was for her to leave her friends, it must have been hard for Steve, too. He felt immense guilt, knowing they were doing this for him. It wasn't just about getting to Siberia to stop the fake shrink from waking the other Winter Soldier — it was about keeping Bucky out of the government's sight, far from the law and the punishments he'd surely receive if Steve had decided that they would all simply surrender. He'd likely be put to death, and Bucky wouldn't fight that sentencing. He had killed numerous people while under Hydra's control. He deserved whatever punishment he was given.

Steve sighed after a long moment, "Whatever it is...I'll deal with it."

Bucky shook his head slowly. "I don't know if I'm with all this, Steve."

Steve looked over his shoulder. "What you did all those years...it wasn't you."

Wasn't it though? His finger pulled the trigger, his eyes watched as the life left his victim's bodies, it was his body and mind that complied to those orders. Steve said it wasn't him. Not the man he once was, not the man AJ had begrudgingly fallen in love with, not Steve's oldest Pal. Not the man they knew. Hell, even with his memory back, Bucky hardly recognized himself anymore.

"You didn't have a choice." Steve added.

"I know," He finally spoke. "But I did it." Bucky said, looking at the back of Steve's head. He'd never stop feeling guilt for the lives he stole, for the heinous crimes he had committed. Having a normal, happy life after all he had done? He didn't deserve it. Bucky sighed, unbuckling himself from the seat.

He could see Steve looking over his shoulder, watching as he disappeared to the lower level of the jet where AJ was. There was nothing Steve could say to make him believe that he was worth all this — nothing anyone could say.

"Andrew," Bucky's brow rose when he heard AJ say the name. He followed the sound of AJ's voice. "By now I'm sure you've heard what happened...and you're probably mad at me, which I understand. I'm sorry, Andy." Bucky stood outside the room AJ was in, glancing inside to see her leaving a video message. "I'm sorry for hurting you and for hurting Tony but...I'm not sorry for protecting Bucky. I'm not sorry for choosing to stand by his side. I love him. I always have...I loved him long before I even realized it. I fought it, tried to ignore it, kept it to myself for as long as I could because loving him terrified me. I used to have this...list," She chuckled. "A list of standards a guy had to live up to in order for me to ever fall in love with them. Your father and uncles would tell me that my standards were too high, that I'd end up alone before I met someone who met my expectations. Bucky was so far from the list I created in my head in order to protect myself."

Bucky's lips tugged up involuntarily. AJ and her damn list. She had told him about it once while in Camp McCoy, saying that Frank Jackson seemed to meet all her standards — God, he had been so jealous. Blood boiling with the thought of AJ marrying the man. But she would only allow them to be friends back then, never letting the line be crossed. She had been with Frank Jackson and Bucky had only been her friend.

"Yet he somehow exceeded the list," AJ voice brought him back to reality. "Comparing Bucky to the list was...laughable. Cocky, stubborn, a flirt, arrogantly charming. Hell, I wanted to hate him the moment he first smiled at me. He was so sure I'd just melt like all the other girls did when he smiled. I did, over time. Not that I'll ever admit that to him."

Bucky smirked.

"My point is...I never intended on falling in love with Bucky. But," He could hear it in her voice that she was smiling. "Some might say that fate had other plans. And years later — decades later...I still love him as much as I did back then. Maybe more so, knowing all he's been through. He was a POW for the last 70 years, tortured, unable to make his own decisions, let alone think for himself. All he knew was to comply, follow orders, be the soldier they made him. I can relate. I've done things I'm not proud of. When I woke up in the future, I did as I was told, followed orders, killed for SHIELD. They formed me into a new version of myself but that was my choice. I had a choice...Bucky didn't. He didn't choose any of this. If he had...I believe with all my heart that he wouldn't have done the things he was forced to do. They tortured him, scrambled his brains until he forgot all he was...and even if he didn't have his memory back -- I'd still fight for him."

AJ sighed. "I love you, Andy. And I'm so glad that I've gotten the chance to know you...I hope someday you can forgive me."

There was silence, and then Bucky heard AJ let out a soft sob. He went to her instantly, out of instinct. The sound of AJ crying caused him to move as quickly as he could to her, ready to swoop her up in his arms. But as he stood behind her, Bucky froze. Before everything, he'd know exactly what to say to make her feel better. But now? She sniffled, wiping away her tears, back facing him. Bucky slowly moved his hand to press against her shoulder, AJ letting out a soft sigh when his hand made contact. "I love you." He whispered. AJ's head fell against his palm, her wet cheek pressed against the flesh of his hand.

AJ pressed her lips against his hand, kissing it softly. Bucky closed his eyes, sighing at the feeling. He had come down to tell her that he wasn't worth saving -- that he was too damaged and unable to be fixed. But the feeling of her lips against his skin had him doubting his own darkest thoughts. AJ slowly rose from where she sat, invading his space and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Her nose was slightly red, eyes misty and he'd never seen her look more beautiful. It reminded him of his last day with her, those big green eyes full of tears, making the gold flecks in her eyes shine even in the sadness. God, he wished more than anything in the world that he would have just stayed with her.

"I should have listened to you." Bucky said quietly. "When you asked me to stay...I will never doubt your gut again." AJ let out an airy laugh, the sound causing his heart to race. Suddenly it was all so clear. AJ loved him unconditionally, just as much as he loved her. "Or my own," He said, realizing he could never leave her again. "I..." Bucky smiled. "I've been waiting decades to ask you this question, Frosty."

AJ raised her brow up in confusion.

"Marry me?"