Sam realizes that things in his life aren't going the way that he wants them to, so he contemplates making a change


BabyGirl: Are you awake?
FlyBoy: Yes, it's 6 am and I need to head out for a run
BabyGirl: How many laps is the old man going to run?
FlyBoy: Too many. I'll run just enough
BabyGirl: I had a big client today
FlyBoy: How big?
BabyGirl: Big enough to get me people on both sides of the pond
FlyBoy: That is amazing!
BabyGirl: It's scary … What if I get it wrong?
FlyBoy: Sweetness, you are amazing…
BabyGirl: I bloody need this to go right
FlyBoy: It will
BabyGirl: I get this right and I can afford to come to Fashion Week in NYC and Paris
FlyBoy: I know you can do this
BabyGirl: I miss you
FlyBoy: I'll see you soon

FlyBoy: When are we going to NYC again?
Old Man: I have no idea, depends on the rest of the world
FlyBoy: When is Fashion Week?
Old Man: What is Fashion Week?
FlyBoy: A reason for her to be in NYC
Old Man: NYC?
FlyBoy: You know, that place where you are from
Old Man: That was a long time ago.
FlyBoy: It's NYC. I thought things there didn't change
Old Man: I'm from Brooklyn, not Manhattan
FlyBoy: I guess I'll ask the ladies
Old Man: Don't let her hear you say that …

Sam watched the dark settle over Rock Creek Park. He had been sitting on the balcony of his apartment for hours, trying to figure out where he wanted to be. He loved what he did with the Avengers and at the VA, but his heart was in London. "There has got to be a way to solve this." Sam muttered to himself as he took a sip of his beer. "How is it that I feel so empty doing what I have always loved doing? Don't think the guys are going to be any help figuring this one out."

Life had been busy since he had returned from London and returned to the skies. He worked with groups of veterans at the VA when he wasn't saving the world with Steve and Tony. He talked to Pansy when their free time and sleep schedules matched up. He spent time with his friends who lived in DC and filled the nights he couldn't spend with Pansy with as much as he could. But, something was still missing.

Sam didn't want to dump his disquiet on Pansy. She had her hands full with starting her own business and building her client base. It felt selfish to ask her to give it all up and move across the ocean to be with him. His life in DC was comfortable, empty and too quiet, but comfortable. He knew where to get the best soul food and when it was a better idea to take the Metro instead of his car to get anywhere. How could he ask Pansy to give up what she had in London when he wasn't ready to give up what he had in DC?

FlyBoy: Can you talk?
BigGuy: Depends
FlyBoy: On what?
BigGuy: What do you want to talk about?
FlyBoy: Just need to get some thoughts out of my head
BigGuy: Can't you talk to Pansy?
FlyBoy: The thoughts are about her
BigGuy: Then you better be talking to her
FlyBoy: No those kind of thoughts
BigGuy: I have no idea what you are talking about
FlyBoy: Just trying to figure out if it is worth giving something up to have more time with her
BigGuy: What are you thinking about giving up?
FlyBoy: My apartment, living in DC, working at the VA
BigGuy: That is a big thought
FlyBoy: Or … I could ask her to give up everything in London and come here
BigGuy: How do you think that would go?
FlyBoy: I like keeping my head attached to my body.
BigGuy: Really?!
FlyBoy: She may be my sweetness but she has a sharp tongue and a quick wand
BigGuy: So … what are you going to do?
FlyBoy: I have no idea
BigGuy: Keep thinking about it, I'm sure you will come up with something
FlyBoy: I can't keep doing this
BigGuy: Want me to have Nat call you?
FlyBoy: No … she and Pansy are too much alike some days :)
BigGuy: That can be a good thing
FlyBoy: It can also be a bad thing

Sam stared down at his phone as the light dimmed. His conversation with Bruce had not helped him sort out anything. He thought about going for a run. He could usually sort through any problem as he settled into the rhythm of his run. But, nothing seemed to settle his mind these days. He had even tried taking the suit out for a flight without a mission. The Chesapeake Bay area was beautiful and, when you got beyond the boundaries of DC, it was wild and breathtaking.

A sleep deprived mind was not the best mind to use to make life altering decisions. He had at least one tattoo and several scars to prove that. He needed to clear his head and actually sleep. He had spent most of the last few nights tossing and turning instead of sleeping. "Maybe if I call her, things will start to make sense. I bet she hasn't eaten lunch just like I haven't eaten breakfast"

Tapping around on the screen on his phone, he finally found the number he was looking for. Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number. "Flying Pies Pizzeria, What do you need, mate?"

"Can you deliver a pizza to my girl but let me pay for it?" Sam looked for his wallet on his bedside table. "I want to surprise a certain witch but I'm not in town."

"Not often we get a call from across the pond, Sam." The voice on the other end laughed. "Let me guess, a Maneater special for a certain lady just down the Alley? She has been on a tear today and it is not even lunch time."

"Mario, my man, how did you know it was me?" Sam chuckled and then sighed. "She has a couple of big events coming up. You might want to wear your hex proof robes when you deliver it."

"There is only one number from your side of the pond that calls this shop." Sam could hear Mario settle into his chair in his office. "It has been a while since we have seen you in Diagon Alley. When are you coming back for a visit?"

"When work lets up enough for me to get a week or two away." Sam sighed and sunk back into his mattress. "Trying to make some life decisions and can't sleep. So I figured I would call you and order a pizza for my girl. You know she won't stop to eat if someone doesn't put food in front of her."

"Bella donna is fine, Sam." Sam could hear indulgence in the pizzeria owner's voice. "My Anna keeps an eye on her like she was one of our own bambini. She is busy but she is well. I will send Anna Marie with the pizza when it is time for her to eat."

"It would be easier if I was there all the time. Or, if she was here." Sam let the breath rush from his body. "I know she lives above her shop and is good at what she does, but she is too hard on herself and works too much."

"And, it would be no different if you were here or she was there, Il Falco." Mario interrupted Sam's thoughts. "You both do great things for many people and sacrifice much to serve. Why are you talking to me about this when you could talk to her about this?'

"Because she does not need the stress from my crisis." Sam sighed. "I thought I could handle being this far from her, but I am not. It was fine until the last time I got hurt."

"Bella donna is stronger than you think." Mario's voice dropped and became more serious. "Talk to her. Our ladies are stronger than we give them credit for. I almost lost my Anna because I am a stubborn man and would not talk to her. Learn from an old man, talk to her."

"How much do I owe you for the pizza and the advice?" Sam grumbled as he reached for his wallet on the bedside table. "What is it with the old men in my life? Between you, Steve, and Bucky, I get no peace."

"The pizza and advice are on the house, this time." Mario's voice filled the void between London and DC. "Learn from what we have learned and don't growl so much. Just come see me and my Anna the next time you fly this way. Don't wait too long. She misses you."

Sam hung up the phone with the old man's advice echoing in his brain. Closing his eyes, he let the phone drop to his chest and closed his eyes. Maybe he could sleep now.

The rumble of the alarm on his phone startled Sam. Lifting the phone off his chest, he turned off the alarm and checked the time. Now was as good a time as any to call her. Sam tapped her image in his speed dial screen. He could feel his heart race as he waited for the phone to ring on her end.

"Bloody hell, if you don't get me that fucking order by tomorrow, I swear to Merlin." Pansy's voice drifted across the phone and settled into Sam's heart.

"Baby Girl, I don't know which order you are talking about, but I can call back later if you need to get back to work." Sam could feel a smile pull at his lips as he listened to her sputtered on the other end of the call. "Busy day?'

"Sam, what are you doing calling this late?" Pansy struggled to catch her breath and her thoughts. "Shouldn't you be asleep? You have something big coming up and you need to be ready."

"Breathe, sweetness." Sam chuckled as he listened to Pansy rattle on."I couldn't sleep and thought I would call and talk to you. It sounds like you have a lot going on. I'll call back later."

"Fly Boy, do not hang up." Pansy growled. "What I have going on can wait. It is just a thing for Gin and you are more important. I'm going back to my office so we can talk without the chaos. Give me a minute."

Sam couldn't hold back his laugh as he listened to Pansy growl at whoever was in the room with her and threaten to hex a few who were not. "Okay, I'm here. What's running through that handsome head of yours?"

"Just images of you at work." Sam chuckled. "Although, you will have to come over here to do a few things to Zabini that you just threatened. What ever did he do to upset you?"

"He bloody promised to have a collection of dresses here for the Harpies to look at from a new and upcoming designer. They were supposed to be delivered by Dragon and Post yesterday and they still aren't here. Gin and the girls will be here on Friday and I still have nothing for them to try on..."

"And, the only thing scarier than my sweetness with her wand is a room full of Harpies with nothing to wear." Sam interjected when Pansy took a breath. "Baby Girl, breathe. I'm sure Blaise will get you what you need before the Harpies show up and you have to hex him across the ocean. If I was there, I could help…"

"If you were here, I would still be ready to hex that bloody Italian for finding the slowest dragons Merlin ever created to use to send me things." Pansy continued to growl. "But, then again, I could put you and those fancy wings of yours to work. My FlyBoy, the carrier pigeon."

"Have you eaten yet?" Sam rubbed the ache building in his chest. "It's after noon and I know you."

"Not bloody hungry." Pansy grumbled. "Too much to do and too many people not doing what they said they would. I don't have time to stop and eat. It's a good thing I live over this bloody shop…"

"Sweetness, you have to eat," Sam's growl stopped Pansy's rant. "Where did you sleep last night? You have better fucking slept in your bed last night and not on that damn sorry excuse you have for a couch in your office."

"Settle down, FlyBoy. I slept in my big, empty bed last night." Pansy sighed and let her head rest on the back of her chair. "Not bloody well, but I got a few hours. Last time I tried to sleep on the sofa, I had to call Gin to rescue me from it's depths and couldn't straighten my neck for three bloody days. It was worse than being caught in Devil's Snare."

Sam felt the tightness in his chest let up as he heard a knock on her office door. "Go check the door, Sweetness. Leave your wand on your desk. You are not allowed to hex whoever is on the other side of the door."

"Bloody hell, what do you want? Can't you bloody well do a few simple tasks without me? Anna Maria, what are you doing here?" Pansy's voice grew distant as she placed her phone on her desk and walked to the door of her office. "I did not order this... Thank you... Tell your father he shouldn't have... Yes, I'll tell Il Falco you said hello."

Sam let his body melt into the mattress as he waited for her to return to her phone. "Samuel Wilson, what in the bloody hell do you think you are doing? I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and feeding myself. I am a full grown witch with her own business …"

"That forgets to eat when she gets stressed." Sam stopped her rant with a whisper. "Please let me do this. I need to take care of you just as much as you need to take care of you. In just a minute, I am going to hang up and go fix myself some breakfast. You are going to lock the door to your office, sit down at your desk, turn on your playlist and eat with me."

"FlyBoy…" Pansy took a deep breath and tried not to break. "What are you doing to me? I have so many bloody things that need to be done and so little time to get them done in."

"I am taking care of you the best I can." Sam sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "Breathe. Eat. Text me when you leave work tonight. We can talk until you fall asleep."

"I miss you." Sam almost missed Pansy's declaration, it was whispered so softly. "I am going to find a way to make this better. It's just a dream."

"That you need to keep chasing, Baby Girl." Sam tried to keep the tears in his eyes from creeping into his voice. "We will figure this out. I need to talk to a few people today. I have an idea. Just don't give up on me, Sweetness."

"Be careful, Sam."

"Clear skies ahead, Pansy."

FlyBoy: We need to talk
Old Man: About what?
FlyBoy: My base of operations
Old Man: Sam ?!
FlyBoy: I don't know how much longer I can do this
Old Man: Do what?
FlyBoy: This! Me here, her there!
Old Man: Slow down … what's going on?
FlyBoy: She is so stressed that I can feel it through the phone
Old Man: Take time if you need it
FlyBoy: But does that solve anything in the long run?
Old Man: I don't know
FlyBoy: Neither do I
Old Man: Come over for dinner
FlyBoy: I'm not good company
Old Man: I think you and Hermione need to talk
FlyBoy: How is that going to help?
Old Man: She knows Pansy
FlyBoy: But, do I know me?
Old Man: just come to dinner
FlyBoy: Stubborn old man
Old Man: Bird brain ...