Four Years Later

"James! Sarah! Hurry up, I have to drop you off at school before my train leaves!"

James came barreling down the stairs at top speed, sliding to a stop across the wooden flooring of their entryway. "I'm ready!" Kayla rolled her eyes at the eight-year-old as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, smiling smugly at his mother.

"Mom! I can't find my tennis shoes, have you seen them?" Sarah called from her bedroom, digging around under her bed. Kayla groaned and threw her head back, looking at her watch.

"Did you look to the left of the dresser?" Kayla called up the stairs as James poked her arm. She turned to her son and crossed her arms expectantly, "Yes?"

"Today's Friday."

Kayla blinked a couple times, not understanding his point, "Which means?..."

"It's ice cream day at school. Can I have money for ice cream?" James asked, rocking back and forth on his heels as he grinned up at his mom. "Pleeeaaaaassee."

Kayla fought back her own smile as she unzipped her purse and dug around for her wallet, pulling out a ten-dollar bill and handing it to James. He took it happily and folded it up really small and shoved it into his pocket, "Thanks, mom! I can have, like, three ice creams!"

"That's for you and your sister. Make sure she gets some too. You can finish whatever she doesn't want." Kayla told him knowingly as he whined, pouting that it wasn't all for him. Kayla looked at her digital watch again and tapped her foot impatiently, "Sarah, honey, we need to go!"

"I'm coming!" Sarah came running down the stairs, wheezing by the time she reached the bottom. The seven-year-old girl was lean, but cute. Her blonde hair was pulled back into low pigtails and she was missing her two front teeth, but her blue eyes twinkled mischievously as she tried to catch her breath. She held her large purple backpack in her left hand as she looked to her mom expectantly, "Can you tie my shoes?"

"Can't you tie your own shoes?" James mocked, and Kayla shot him a dirty look and a firm shake of her head. "What? I could tie my own shoes when I was seven!"

"And she can get a hundred percent on her spelling test, something you still can't accomplish." Kayla countered, kneeling to tie her daughter's shoes. She beamed at Sarah as she double-knotted her shoes, then turned to James as she stood, "We don't compare ourselves to others. Some things you're better at. Some things she's better at. We don't make fun. Now, let's go, I can't be late. Your father will be there at three to pick you guys up. I'll be back Sunday night."

Zawadi lifted his head to see James pull open the door, giving a loud bark as Kayla approached and knelt beside him, "I love you too Zaddi. I'll see you in a few days." Kayla crooned to the dog, pressing a kiss to his snout, "Make sure these three stay out of trouble alright?" Zawadi barked loudly, giving Kayla a slobbery lick across the face as she grimaced. She gave him one last pat on the head before standing and herding her kids out to the mini-van.

As Kayla drove, she occasionally looked up at her children in the backseat, "You two are strangely quiet this morning."

"I don't want you to go away." Sarah grumbled as she looked out the window, "Dad and James will just watch sports and action movies all weekend. Who will remind them that I'm a girl?"

Kayla's mouth twisted up into a judgemental gaze as she looked into the rearview mirror, "Your father is aware that you are a girl. And I specifically told him no action movies. Family-friendly activities only. Uncle Bucky's gonna stop by and make sure your father follows directions."

"Great. More boys." Sarah groaned, lulling her head to the side as she looked at her brother, "You'll be in heaven."

"Yes. Yes, I will." James agreed teasingly. "You said you'll be back Sunday night? Will you be home for dinner? Can we have pizza?"

"You'll be asleep when I get home, but I'm sure your father will let you have pizza if you ask nicely," Kayla answered nonchalantly, turning on her blinker as she pulled into the drop off zone. "Alright, you've got your homework?"

"Yes, ma'am." They chimed in unison, and Kayla leaned into the center to turn around and see her kids. She beamed lovingly at them, wishing she didn't have to go away. But she had a job to do too.

"Give me a kiss. I'll miss you guys." She cooed as they each kissed her on the cheek while the automatic door opened. "Be good. I love you two."

"I love you too." Sarah and James repeated out of synch before James turned and led his sister toward their elementary school. Kayla smiled sadly as they entered the building, then threw the mini-van into drive and sped away from the school zone toward the train station.

"Friday, the sparrows have left the nest," Kayla said casually as she drove quickly through the town. Her mini-van came alive as the woman's Irish accent greeted her.

"Hello Mrs. Rogers, what can I help you with today?"

"Get Stark on the line please," Kayla demanded as she looked at the time on the dash. As she pulled into the train station parking lot, Tony Stark's face appeared on her windshield. "Morning Tony."

"It's morning already?" Tony yawned as he poured himself a cup of coffee, "You on your way?"

"Yes, sir. Barely. Will Happy be there to meet me in Buffalo?" Kayla asked, looking around for a spot.

"He's on his way now. He has the photostatic veil and antidotes ready to go. Your flight leaves at twelve-thirty, landing in California three-thirty their time. Hotel's booked. She'll meet you around six." Tony droned on, tapping away on his holographic screen as he took a seat at the table. "You brought the passport and license right?"

"Which one is it booked under again?" Kayla teased, popping open her glove compartment once she parked the van. "I have to go, otherwise I'll miss this train. Give Morgan a hug from me."

The wrinkles around Tony's eyes crinkled as he smiled, "I will. Be safe."

Kayla turned off the van and shoved her passport and license into her purse and grabbed her briefcase before sliding out onto the ground. She smoothed down her navy blue skirt and unbuttoned her matching blazer, locking up the van before briskly walking to the station to catch her train to Buffalo.

Tessa was in the back of the shop, baking fresh muffins when one of her employees peeked their head around and cleared her throat, "Miss Davis, one of the customers is asking for you."

Tessa pushed a piece of hair away from her face and pulled off her gloves, discarding them before washing her hands, "I'll be out in just a moment, I've got to get the muffins in the oven. Tell them I'll be right there."

As the younger girl nodded and left the kitchen, Tessa pulled on oven mitts and placed the tray into the oven, setting the timer before telling another employee to keep an eye on them while she was out front. Tessa checked the mirror on the side of the wall, sliding her finger along her mouth to fix her smudged plum lipstick.

"Hi, how can I- you." Tessa's professional disposition fell when she saw Bucky Barnes standing on the other side of the counter with that stupid shy smile on his face. "Why are you here Bucky?"

"I wanted coffee? This is a coffee shop isn't it?" Bucky jested, leaning his right arm on the glass case as his left hand stayed shoved tightly into his brown jacket, "Can I get my usual?"

Tessa rolled her eyes so far Bucky wondered if they'd get stuck inside her head, "What makes you think I remember your order?"

"Because I come in here once every two weeks and order the same thing," Bucky's coy blue eye bore into Tessa, but she was immune to his charms. She was sure of it. As long as he didn't do that thing with his brows when he got all wide-eyed and confused looking because that always made her stomach flip. But his flirty, knowing smile had no effect on her.

Tessa scoffed, crossing her arms over her black apron, "I have a lot of customers. The Brewhouse has become quite popular." He did the thing. His brows rose and he looked surprised, and a little hurt that she didn't remember him. It made her feel guilty, so she let her shoulders fall and mumbled, "Large black coffee coming right up."

Bucky's eyes lit up at her words, and he tried and failed desperately to hide his beaming smile. "So you do remember my order?"

"It's not hard. It's literally plain coffee in a big cup."

"But you said you didn't remember. You lied to me."

"I picked up a few tricks from your friends," Tessa muttered, looking over her shoulder as she poured the coffee to give Bucky a snide look.

Bucky snorted, pushing back his long hair. He'd let it grow out again, stopping just above his jawline. Tessa hated the way it drew her eyes to his jawline because she quite enjoyed the sight of it, but that made her scold herself because she hated how he shamelessly flirted with her. He'd killed her fiance. He was an assassin. And his best friend ruined her life, so there was no way in hell she was going to accept his advances.

Bucky watched her for a moment, noticing the way she tried so hard to avoid his gaze and the slight blush on her cheeks, despite how cruel her words had been before, "You know they really miss you. Kayla... really misses you. And the kids, you should see them! They've gotten so big now."

"Please stop. You've tried this before. It won't work." Tessa griped, turning and setting down the coffee between them. "Here's your coffee. On the house. Take it to go."

"You still single?"

"Bucky!" Tessa hissed, slamming her hand on the glass counter as she leaned forward, "No."

"You aren't single?" Bucky shrugged, rubbing his hand along his clean-shaven face before grabbing the coffee cup. "Good for you then."

"No, I am single, but no, I won't go out with you." Tessa clarified, turning her back on the man.

Bucky nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. He noticed that even though Tessa had ended the conversation, she hadn't walked away. She was waiting for him to talk to her again, so he didn't disappoint. "I respect that."

Tessa turned, staring at Bucky suspiciously with narrowed chocolate eyes, "You do?"

"If you aren't interested, that's fine. I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. I just wanted you to know I was interested." Bucky smiled genuinely at Tessa, raising his coffee cup in farewell, "Have a good day Miss Davis." He didn't wait for Tessa to respond, he just turned and left, giving her the space she wanted.

Once he was out of sight, Tessa twisted her mouth to the side thoughtfully, considering his words. Her teenage employee let out a long whistle and shook her head disapprovingly, "I can't believe you finally rejected that guy. He's been trying to ask you out for months. You're an idiot, by the way, he's gorgeous." The girl took to the register to take the next customer's order while Tessa took a step back.

She bopped her head back and forth, a teeny, tiny smile cracking her lips, "Yeah, maybe I am."

As three o'clock rolled around, Steve pulled up in front of the elementary school in his big silver pickup. He pulled into the pick-up zone, leaving it running but getting out, something he knew full well he wasn't supposed to do. As his taupe boots hit the ground, every mother within a twenty foot radius rolled down their window to 'get some air'.

Steve walked around the front of his truck, smiling grandly at the mothers he recognized, and giving a short wave to the crossing guard who waved back slowly, then fanned herself when she thought Steve was no longer looking. He leaned against the passenger's door and waited for the security guard to tell him to move as he pulled off his aviator sunglasses and used his thin black shirt to clean them.

The security guard waltzed up to Steve and sighed, shaking his head to tell Steve he wasn't surprised, "Mr. Carter."

"Richard," Steve answered smugly, pushing his glasses back over his eyes. His blonde strands fell to the side of his face, giving him a 'bad boy' look that he was far too old for. Not that any of the locals would guess that he was one hundred and thirteen years old. His wife liked it.

Richard sighed deeply, adjusting his own sunglasses as he addressed Steve again, already knowing it was a losing battle, "You know you aren't supposed to leave your vehicle in the pick-up area. We have this conversation every time you pick up James and Sarah. Katie follows directions."

"Her van's a lot shorter than my truck. I have to make sure my children get in safely." Steve countered, tilting his head to the side condescendingly, "Plus, nobody's complaining."

"Yes, I'm aware, but rules are rules, Steve. Can't you just, I don't know, not break them?"

The bell rang loudly, and all the kids came scrambling out of the doors of the elementary school moments later, "Next time, next time I promise I'll be good. I swear. Scout's honor."

Richard shook his head in annoyance, walking away to make sure everyone got where they were going safely. It was a losing battle, as it was every time Steve Carter showed up.

A million-dollar smile overtook Steve's face when his daughter came bursting out through the door, running toward him at top speed. "Daddy!" She shrieked and jumped at him, knowing he'd catch her. He lifted her up and held her easily in one arm, beaming up at her as she grabbed his stubbly face between her fingers, "James didn't share the ice cream money mom left."

"Snitch." James hissed, meandering toward the truck at a snail's pace as he held his backpack straps. "She didn't want it anyway."

"James didn't ask. He just bought three for himself."

Steve turned and looked down at James as stared up at his father with guiltless eyes and shrugged, "Like I said, she wasn't going to eat it anyway."

Sarah let out a loud cough and Steve's face snapped back up to look at her as she covered her mouth with her little fist, "You okay Sarah?" She struggled to nod, keeping her eyes slammed shut as she tried to catch her breath. Steve smiled sadly at her, "Do you want ice cream?" Sarah looked down at James, then at her father and nodded pleadingly.

James narrowed his green eyes at his sister, and Steve used his free hand to pull open the door to the backseat. James tossed in is backpack easily, then climbed in as Steve carefully deposited Sarah in the rear passenger's seat. He closed the door slowly and walked around, winking at Richard as he climbed into the cab. Once the door closed, he looked over his shoulder at his kids, "Buckle up. We're getting Dairy Queen."

"James doesn't need more ice cream," Sarah whined, poking her brother in the arm, but he didn't seem to notice as he pouted sadly at their father.

Steve looked up in the rearview mirror and met James's eyes, "Are you sorry for using Sarah's ice cream money?"

"Yes. I'm sorry." He mumbled, his head dropping shamefully, causing his shaggy blonde hair to fall in front of his face as his father's did.

"You're sorry to me or her?"

"I'm sorry Sarah, I shouldn't have taken your ice cream money."

"There," Steve said happily, throwing his truck into drive, "Now, ice cream for everybody."

Three-thirty pacific time came too quickly for Samantha Turner, but the middle seat was empty, so she couldn't complain too much. The photostatic veil that disguised Kayla's face wasn't comfortable for hours on end, but she couldn't chance taking it off until she got to her hotel room. Only a few more hours, and then she could put the mask away. The southern drawl that her voice emerged as startled her initially, but she'd become used to it as she made small talk with the elderly woman on the aisle seat next to her.

Stepping off the plane in her navy blue blazer, Kayla buttoned it up and tousled her pale lilac pixie wig, giving it the messy look that was so popular nowadays. She only brought her briefcase, so she breezed past the baggage claim out into the San Francisco sunshine, raising her hand to hail a cab. Once seated, Kayla pulled out her phone and sent a text message to her contact, making sure their meeting was still a go.

Six o'clock. Fairmont San Francisco. I'll send the room number.

Kayla held her breath, waiting impatiently for an answer. She'd come all this way, she needed to deliver the package. The Hydra situation had crossed the country, but their numbers were large, and in plain sight. The disappearances had stopped, which made it all the more unnerving. They'd gotten what they needed- an army to start taking over the world's governments. Kayla remembered the reach Pierce had when the Triskellion fell. She remembered how many people the helicarriers would have killed. But now, a very vocal, very public Johann Schmidt was leading the charge from the shadows, causing global chaos and destruction.

The Avengers focused all their energy on trying to find the Hydra leader, but he was as much of a ghost as his archnemesis. Sam Wilson worked day and night with his team to stop Hydra before they struck, often succeeding, but over the past six months, Hydra had become more successful. More dangerous.

The time had come to take down Hydra from the inside.

Kayla's cell phone buzzed in her hand and her eyes darted down, reading the text message before exhaling loudly. She was coming. Everything was going as planned.

As the taxi pulled up in front of the elegant white hotel, Kayla thanked the driver and handed him some cash before exiting the car and heading into the Fairmont. She approached the front desk, smiling sweetly at the older man behind a flatscreen, "I need to check-in. Samantha Turner."

"Of course madam." The man responded, quickly typing away and pulling up her reservation. "Is a city view alright?"

"Yes, that will be wonderful, thank you. Just one bed if you can. I'm here without my husband... I'm going to take advantage of it." The woman winked at the older receptionist and his eyes widened as he grinned, nodding slowly as he handed her a key fob.

"Enjoy your stay, Mrs. Turner."

Kayla trotted her way to the elevator, taking it up to the fifth floor. She bopped along with the soft music that echoed, sighing deeply as the doors open and allowed her to exit. Her heels clicked down the hallway to her room and she opened it swiftly, closing the door and looking around the quiet, modern room. She gently set her briefcase on the dresser and kicked off her shoes before going into the bathroom and carefully removing the veil, revealing her own face. Then she went back to the bedroom and flopped onto the king-sized, sprawling out like a starfish over the cushy mattress.

"Alone at last." She slurred to herself, closing her eyes until her phone began to vibrate wildly next to her. She turned her head and saw Steve's face on the screen, wanting to video chat. She accepted the call and grinned at the familiar face on the other side, "Hey handsome."

"You make it there safely?"

"I did. Are the kids with you?"

Steve hoisted Sarah up onto his knee and she took the tablet, smiling widely at her mother on the other end, "Daddy got us ice cream because James ate mine at school!"

"Saraaahhh!" James whined from Steve's other side, leaning in to see his mom too, "I'm sorry, I thought she didn't want it!"

"But Daddy fixed everything and took them both for ice cream after. Because I'm the best." Steve teased as he lifted his chin smugly, causing Kayla to shake her head in response.

"I miss you three. The conference starts in a couple of hours. I wish you were here with me." Kayla's sad smile was honest as she watched her kids and husband back home without her. "What's for dinner?"

"We had ice cream, I told you!" Sarah giggled, and Kayla looked to Steve for a real answer.

Steve scoffed, yanking his neck back in offense, "Obviously we had chicken strips with the ice cream."

"Oh obviously, because you'd never feed our children ice cream for dinner while Mom was away?" Kayla laid onto her back, holding the phone above her, "What are you guys going to do now?"

"Well, seeing as it's about- seven-thirty here, I'm going to have them get into their pajamas and then let them stay up late watching a movie." Steve informed Kayla, causing his children to cheer victoriously, starting to scamper off to change. "Wait, come back here!" Steve called to them over his shoulder, "Come say goodnight to your mother."

"Bye, mom. Love you!" Sarah blew Kayla a kiss, then scurried off to head upstairs before Kayla could reciprocate it.

James waved sadly to his mom, "I love you Mom."

"I love you too. Very much. Don't stay up too late okay."

"We won't. Night Mom." James turned and darted up the stairs two at a time to get changed.

Once alone, Steve turned back to Kayla, setting the tablet down on the table and leaning his fist against his cheek, "I miss you."

"I miss you too. This isn't as much fun without you." Kayla admitted, rubbing her tired eyes, "Maybe one of these trips we can make together. Leave the kids with... Bucky?"

"Yeah, you rethought that before you even said it, didn't you?" Steve chuckled and Kayla laughed loudly in response.

"I'd love to get away with you. It's been too long since it was just the two of us, Steve. And we weren't exactly taking advantage of it." Kayla said coyly, remembering the five years before The Blip, before they got their son and their friends back. Before they saved everyone. Before the Red Skull...

"I love you, Kay." Steve murmured, his lips twitching as he watched her in the screen's light.

"I love you too, Steve. I better go though. You need to make sure those two brush their teeth. Don't stay up too late, please? I don't want them to be happy when I have to leave." Kayla complained as she turned on her side, settling her cheek into the pillow.

"I won't. They'll never want that. I'm not that great." Steve answered with a wink, feeling his heart clench at the inevitable goodbye. "Be safe darling."

"I will. Goodnight." Kayla blew Steve a kiss and shut off the phone, letting it fall to the side. She had an hour and a half before her friend arrived. Kayla felt her heavy eyelids droop, and allowed herself to fall asleep.

A firm knock woke Kayla up from her nap, and she found herself immediately alert, rolling out of bed toward the door. She approached slowly, prepared for anything, but knowing who to expect. She looked through the peephole and saw an unfamiliar blonde woman with a chubby face on the other side. Kayla opened the door slowly and watched the visiter distrustfully. "May I help you?"

"I was wondering if you had some glue I could borrow? The heel on my favorite black stilettos broke, and I can't bear to throw them away."

Kayla grinned like a fool and swung the door open wide, ushering the blonde woman inside. Once the door clicked closed, the blonde ripped the wig away, discarding it on the floor and pulled off her own photostatic veil to reveal Natasha Romanoff underneath. Kayla embraced her friend tightly, squeezing her more than she should, but Natasha would never admit that it hurt. "It's nice to see you too." Nat wheezed out to get Kayla to let her go. Kayla took a step back, beaming at her friend, but Natasha just crossed her arms and smirked back, "You bring it?"

"What, no small talk? Where you off to?" Kayla asked as she tilted her briefcase on its side, opening it to reveal two hundred miniature vials of white liquid. Natasha studied them as Kayla took a step back, sitting on the edge of the bed, "You're late by the way."

"When the boss calls a Hydra meeting, you show up. Running off could blow my cover. You know that." Natasha replied cooly, closing the briefcase and latching it before turning toward the door.

Kayla groaned, "You're really leaving? I came all this way."

"And even spending this much time puts both of us at risk. I've spent four years undercover, I've moved my way up. I'm trusted. There's a chance they'll take me soon to see Schmidt. He's calling more and more meetings with the leaders. They are planning something big. I have to go" Natasha explained quickly, grabbing her wig from the floor and readjusting it over her own red buzz cut. There was no need for long hair if she lived in her blonde wig anyways. She replaced her veil, her voice coming out as someone else's as she faced Kayla one last time, smiling sadly, "It was great to see you, Kayla. Give the kids a hug from me. I'll be in touch if I need more antidote. And possibly anti-serum. I think the time is coming fast. Keep it in mind." And with that, Natasha Romanoff left the hotel room, not to be seen again that weekend.

Kayla blew air out through her lips, collapsing onto the bed. If she'd known Natasha wasn't going to at least stay a while, she would have booked a return flight in the morning.