Saturday February 22nd 2014.
Sam jabbed the elevator button with more force than was necessary. It didn't matter, Tony could afford to fix it if his incessant jabbing broke it. He gave the button a break and gripped the silver rail as the doors slid closed.
I'll do my best.
The promise he'd made to Riley, years ago, pinballed around his head as the elevator soundlessly whisked him toward the floor Jarvis had told him Steve was located on.
Sam raised his gaze from his feet to look at his reflection in the mirror. The image that stared back at him pissed him off. He was a failure, and this failure had the audacity to look upset when it glared back at him. How had he managed to do this to his best friend-fuck that, best friends-to fail them both in such a spectacular way? He'd never done things by halves and this seemed to be no exception.
He should have punched the idiot gawking back at him, but instead of punching the image, he shook the bar aggressively. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuuuuck!" he roared.
"Mr. Wilson, are you okay?" Even for artificial intelligence, Jarvis sounded concerned.
Fuck off, Jarvis, Sam wanted to respond but decided against it.
Not satisfied with his lack of answer and programmed to be a pain in Sam's ass, Jarvis asked, "Should I alert medical?"
"No!" Sam snapped. "Not unless they'll euthanize me peacefully," he grumbled stepping off onto the eighty-second floor.
"Not sure about the 'peacefully' part," Natasha piped up from her position resting against the doorframe of the kitchen. "But I'm more than qualified to assist you," she quipped, as Steve appeared over her shoulder. Jarvis had obviously informed them of Sam's pending arrival and they'd been laying in wait for the elevator to arrive.
"Just fuckin' do it," Sam begged her
"Sam," Steve started, giving him a disapproving scowl, "What's goin' on? You were stoked about leaving here, going to see your girl. It's barely been four hours."
Natasha's mouth twitched wickedly, "He works fast."
Any other time Sam would have retaliated and thrown in a suggestive remark about his stamina, but he couldn't find it in him, not today.
Ever the referee, Steve scolded her with a curt growl of her name.
Sam sighed, raked a hand down his face, and gave them both a pleading look, "I need your help."
Settled at the kitchen table, Nat and Steve sat across from him with similar sympathetic expressions, but even in the informal setting, he couldn't shake the feeling they were interrogating him, judging him for his past indiscretions.
"You sure you were careful every time?" Steve asked, sounding like a disapproving brother. "No slip ups, heat of the moment and all that, breakages?"
Sam scoffed and rolled his eyes - for the hundredth time - "I'm positive."
"So's she," Nat jested under her breath.
"Nat," Steve chided, whipping his head to look at her.
"Ah man, let her have her fun," Sam sighed, "someone should get a laugh out of the shit show that is my life."
She stopped stifling the laugh she'd tried to bite down and chuckled shuffling forward in her seat to rest her elbows on the table. "Come on Sam, you can't honestly believe this woman. You go on four dates, she ditches you and then the second you're on the news she's pregnant?"
Sam nodded in agreement, it had sounded suspect to him too. Until he'd been to see Gabby. "Well, I couldn't exactly accuse her of faking it and the scan she showed me was pretty convincing."
Nat shrugged, "Could be a friend's scan. Or another guy's kid. We know she's not opposed to picking guys up in bars." She reasoned, "I'm not passing judgement, I've had my fair share. I'm just sayin' you weren't the first and you probably won't be the last. But she has more to gain if this baby is yours, if there even is a baby."
"What's her name?" Steve questioned, his voice changed to the distinct mission mode.
"Gabriella."
Sam shrugged one shoulder and grimaced when Steve looked disappointed at the lack of a last name.
Nat laughed but her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "But you know her address, right? We've done more with less information, so this is what we're gonna do."
Thursday February 27th 2014
Sam hadn't wanted to meet at the regular spot for their Thursday night drinks. He'd thought it was best to keep a low profile, so he'd invited Skylar to his place. He was surprised she'd agreed. He'd known her long enough to understand she preferred avoidance over confrontation and he'd prepared himself for her to ignore him or give some bullshit excuse to cancel on him at the last minute.
Since the pregnancy revelation five days before, they'd exchanged the sum total of three messages. Nothing more than a quick check in to see how the other was doing. They both claimed to be 'fine' and steered clear of any tough discussions, so he was shocked she'd shown up, and further stunned she had been on time with their usual order from Gino's. Sam understood she was making an effort to keep things as normal as possible, and while he loved her for it, he hated the fake smiles and awkward small talk.
During their takeout dinner, their conversation had flowed. Skylar had been the one to bring up Gabby and he'd quickly updated her on the situation. A scheduled doctor's appointment next week that he would attend with her to check on the baby's health and find out how soon a DNA test could be done.
Sam had hope that Nat's plan would succeed, that he'd be able to put the whole Gabby fiasco behind him and start the life he wanted with Skylar. But he worried about giving her false hope. What if the life he wanted them to have was a pipedream? It would be cruel to push his belief on to her, build up their hope only to have it torn away, again. So he'd decided not to tell Skylar about Steve and Nat's involvement, or the fact his doubts about the truth of the pregnancy grew the more time he spent with Gabby. Mainly because Gabby had tried, unsuccessfully and adamantly, to get him into bed.
Sam treated that information as if it were a covert mission and diverted the conversation to Skylar, the way he used to on their long distance calls, asking about her promotion. She informed him she had a meeting on Monday and she was confident the job was hers.
Their casual attitude felt normal, like old times. Sam had almost convinced himself everything was good, and he could have at least pretended it was except for the fact Skylar couldn't bring herself to look at him.
Skylar sat as far away as she could, on the other end of the couch and perhaps it was his insecurities but she really didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She did everything to avoid looking at him. Though her body was turned toward him, one leg tucked underneath herself and one foot flat on the floor she barely lifted her head towards him and her eyes kept flicking toward the door like she was fighting internally to not bolt out of the room.
He caught her eye and she looked away, into her lap. She'd been doing the same all night, looking at a spot on the wall behind him, the floor, picked imaginary lint from her jeans, or stared at the television that was on in the background. She looked everywhere but his face.
They toasted Riley and the clinking of their glasses seemed to signal the end of the small talk they had desperately tried to keep alive. The tinkling of glass on glass faded and the tension grew steadily.
He felt like she wasn't there. Maybe physically she was sat within touching distance, but mentally she was somewhere else, and he hated it because he was there with her. In his mind, they weren't so far apart. She was tucked up under his arm, inhaling the scent of her summer spiced perfume, making plans for their future. Skylar stared down at her fidgeting hands in her lap, and after a long tense moment, Sam couldn't take it any longer.
"I wasn't sure you'd show," said Sam, trying without success to not sound as hopeless as he felt.
Her heavy sigh was mixed with a scoff, "Why not? Nothing's changed."
"Everything's changed."
"Not for me it hasn't."
Then Skylar met his bereft gaze, and Sam wished she hadn't. Her brow was slightly pinched, like she had a permanent dull ache somewhere. And as much as he hated it, he understood. He'd felt the tightness in his chest since he'd returned home days ago, felt the ache that he couldn't quite pinpoint the location of. But he knew the antidote lay in her tender kiss, the gentle caress of her hand. Damn, even a friendly hug would have helped subdue it, if only temporarily, but she'd denied him even that.
"For my entire life, I've wanted you, Sam. I've always been in lo-" She bit off the sentiment and corrected herself, "into you. Always. But I've had years of practice at hiding it or ignoring it, whatever. Now isn't any different. So nothing has changed. Not for me."
"You make it sound like I haven't been doing the same. Hiding what I feel, pretending."
"Don't do this, please."
"I want to do this," he growled, frustrated as he dragged himself across the sofa to occupy the middle cushion and be closer to her. "I'm so fuckin' tired of dancing around this shit, Sky!"
"You think I'm not?" she snapped, her eyes blazing with anger.
She glared at him for a moment before turning her body away from him, both feet flat on the floor and he worried for a second she would get up and leave. Instead, Skylar closed herself off, elbows resting on her knees with her face buried in her hands.
Her voice was muffled, but he heard her clearly, "It's not gonna change anything. It'll just make everything harder." She sniffed back tears, and the plea in her voice was unmistakable. "So can we just not, please?"
Sam peered at her, contemplating whether to push the issue or not, though he agreed, talking about it, discussing their feelings, or rather finally admitting what they felt,wouldn't make it any easier or less painful to be around her. He watched her shoulders rise and fall as she heaved deep breaths to stop herself from crying, and once again he felt like an absolute asshole, a failure.
"Riley knew." Sam wasn't sure why he blurted it out or why he wanted her to know. Maybe he wanted her to know because she'd always been the one to help him navigate his emotions, get his thoughts in order, and he needed, now more than ever, for her to tell him he wasn't the jackass he thought he was. Needed to hear her say he hadn't failed as a friend to Riley or to her.
He heard her sharp intake of breath but didn't hear her release it. She slowly lowered her hands and sat up straighter to stare wide-eyed at him.
"A few days before…" Sam still found it difficult to say. Every time he said 'he died', the image of Riley dropping from the sky haunted him. He swallowed a thick lump that threatened to consume him. Her eyes swam behind tears, and he had to clear his throat to stop his own from doing the same. "He heard us on the phone. Told me that we had his blessing."
"Sam," she winced, a mixture of a warning and sympathy laced her tone.
Regardless of the concern edging Skylar's raspy voice, he begged, "Please, let me say this."
Her shimmering eyes bore into his, but she nodded almost undetectably and reached out to put a hand on his leg. It took all of his strength to not cover hers with his own. He knew it was probably an automatic reaction, a habit to comfort him, but he didn't want to do anything to cause her to pull away.
"After he said it, it was all I could think about. I wanted to come home and be with you. But it was already so hard to leave you behind, and we were just friends then. I was scared if we were more, if I told you that after our night together I realized how much I really loved you and if you'd said it back... I'd never have gone back out there. To be with you, I'd've had to break my promise to Riley. To not be his wingman. I didn't want to let him down or ask you to wait for me. But then he...He left us both, and I didn't want that to be the reason we-"
He expelled a heavy-hearted breath and couldn't stop his hand from picking up hers from his knee. And now he was the one who couldn't meet her eyes, but she squeezed his hand as if encouraging him to continue.
"I needed it to be real, y'know. Not because we were grieving. I wanted you to want me, not need me to fill a void. But I see it now, it was real. Before Riley...and after, it's always been real. I love you. I'm in love with you, and I have been for a long goddamn time..." Sam scrunched his eyes closed, his brow knitted tightly together. That pain in his chest became almost unbearable but he continued, "And I'm sorry it took me so fuckin' long to figure it out."
If he hadn't have been holding her hand, he wouldn't have known she was still there. She was silent, perfectly still, had stopped breathing. He cautiously opened his eyes, worried what expression would be waiting for him - unwarranted anger for expressing his feelings when she'd specifically asked him not, mournful tears for wasted time and a life that may never be.
Skylar's cheeks were sodden and he didn't understand how she could cry so many tears yet be so quiet. She leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to his lips. Her hand slipped to the back of his neck and when she pulled away, resting her forehead against his, she released a strangled sob that puffed against his mouth.
"I'm sorry," whispered Skylar. "I'm sorry, I'm too selfish to share you. I'm sorry I was too afraid to lose you as a friend that I never told you that I love you. And I'm so sorry that I can't start something with you to just have it taken away." She pulled back and her eyes looked like green crystals shimmering behind tears. That was enough to convey her heartbreak but the crack in her voice and the next words she spoke were like a death blow to break through Sam's chest straight to his own heart, "You were my first, and I thought finally I'd get what I wanted, that you'd be my last."
Without warning she abruptly got to her feet and was out of the door before Sam could find the words to ask her to stay.
Saturday March 1st 2014
The cocoon Skylar had buried herself in on the couch was warm and snug. There, with only her head poking above the blankets, she felt safe. Shielded from the world and watching Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock fall in love on a speeding bus, she could pretend that the outside world didn't exist. She'd rejoin reality when the anticipated pizza man delivered her meat feast special, but that would take minutes and then she could go back to wallowing.
She had ignored all of Sam's calls for two days, and he had been smart enough not to try to communicate via messages because that was a sure fire way to get wires crossed. But when her news alert popped up, she couldn't stop herself from reaching for the phone.
The title of the notification turned her stomach: Has The Falcon Found His Tweetheart? Skylar knew she should have turned off the notifications for 'The Falcon' and that she shouldn't click it. She knew the pictures would make her feel worse, yet her thumb hit it anyway.
Sam and Gabby looked good together, with each candid photo they looked more and more like a couple. Tucked up in a booth at Gino's - the place Sam was supposed to take Skylar on their first official date that never came to fruition - leaning into one another, feeding each other, Sam kissing her cheek. She scanned the short article. The journalist wasn't sure who the woman was, but regardless of the details, they looked happy and 'loved up'.
"More like knocked up!" Skylar groaned, swiping out of the story and tossing the phone aside.
The ringing doorbell startled her, and she silently prayed it was the pizza man and not Sam tracking her down because she'd ignored him.
"Yeah, okay, I'm coming!" Skylar called out, annoyed at the impatient visitor who knocked for a third time in a matter of seconds.
Piercing blue eyes greeted her, and Steve gave a small smile with his greeting. "Hi."
Her ears buzzed and her stomach lurched. There was only one reason Steve Rogers would be impatiently knocking at her door on a Saturday afternoon. Sam was… Sam had…
She couldn't even contemplate it. She inhaled sharply, held her breath to try and swallow down the wave of sickness that washed over her. Steve's image distorted when tears collected in her eyes, and she put a hand to her mouth in case she really did vomit.
"Oh jesus, no." Steve quickly crossed the threshold, was quick to put a comforting hand on her shoulder and push her back to an upright position before she had a chance to put her head between her knees. "Sam's fine! He's fine."
It took a moment for his words to echo through the buzz, but when they did, she slapped his hand off her shoulder and swung around to punch him in the arm. "Ow!" she yelped, immediate regret for forgetting he was a super-soldier and evidently made of marble. She glared at him, cradling her hand to her chest. "Shit! Are you made of stone?" She flicked her hand trying to shake off the pain and work the feeling back to it. "You fuckin' jackass!"
"Hey! You punched me?" Steve defended, watching her pained jig.
Musical laughter filtered through her pained cursing, and Skylar looked up to see Nat leaning on the doorframe with an amused smirk lighting her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked, "Sam will kill me if you show up broken."
"It's not broken," Skylar told him through gritted teeth and flexed her hand a couple times. It ached but didn't hurt. "And show up broken where?"
Nat strolled further into the house and suggested, "Maybe we should start this again?"
Steve sighed and focused on a scowling Skylar. "Sam is fine. I came with Nat to formally introduce the two of you. And invite you to the party tonight."
"Sam already invited me."
"And you said you were coming, " Nat reminded her, "But I've come to make sure you don't bail. Or politely drag your ass there. Whichever is fine by me."
"You can politely drag someone?" Skylar challenged with a cocked brow.
Nat smirked and held her arms wide walking toward Steve, "Want me to demonstrate?"
"Oh, I can see you two are gonna get on just fine," Steve observed dodging around Nat's arms as she lazily ducked and weaved to grab him. Skylar chuckled at the friendly exchange but she cut it off when Steve stood in front of her. His tight expression was serious, but his eyes held a wealth of sympathy. "Sam told us you haven't spoken for a couple days. He needs to talk to you, to tell you what's going on before you hear it from someone else."
Skylar rolled her eyes and an involuntarily sneer pulled her lips back, "Like TMZ? I've already seen the pictures."
Natasha came to a stop beside Steve as if she were his back-up, but fixed Skylar with a warm smile, "We have a plan to get to the bottom of this whole Gabby situation and Sam didn't want to tell you in case…"
"It's the truth," Skylar offered with a heavy sigh turning to go into the kitchen.
"There's a small chance, very small," assured Nat following close behind.
"Sam hasn't given up on the two of you," said Steve, accepting Skylar's offer of a bottle of water. "Neither should you."
Nat slipped into a seat at the breakfast bar and Steve followed her lead, both staring expectantly at Skylar. "I know you're just being good friends to Sam," she acknowledged passing a second bottle to Nat. "But there's no way I'm going to a party with Sam and the chick carrying his kid."
"Look, I get it it's not going to be easy," Nat explained. "It's probably going to be just as bad as you imagine it will be. But you're Sam's family. More than any of us, you should be there. He wants you there."
"And he deserves the chance to explain what's going on," Steve added, "face to face."
Skylar could feel her resolve wavering, they weren't just a super soldier and a skilled assassin they were clearly master manipulators too.
"I like you, you punch super soldiers and blame them for it," Nat quipped, "but no offence, that," she gestured to Skylar's sweatpants and tank top, "is not part of the dress code."
Skylar frowned, "I look good," she snarked playfully. "You don't like the whole natural, just got out of bed look?"
"You look and smell like you were in that bed for three days straight."
Well damn if she wasn't perceptive as well as politely threatening too. It hadn't been three days. Thursday when she got home from Sam's she'd changed into the attire she was currently wearing and hidden in the warmth of her bed. She'd given a bullshit excuse to work and took a personal day Friday and then spent most of Saturday morning in her bed before moving to the couch. So two days, but who was counting. Besides didn't she deserve some time to wallow? The man she'd been in love with her entire life confessed to feeling the same for the last sixteen years and another woman was having his baby. That situation warranted a little self pity.
Skylar put a hand to her chest offended, "I thought women were supposed to build each other up."
"That's exactly what I'll do when you get your ass in the shower and get ready."
"I have nothing…"
"Taken care of," Nat interrupted smuggly. "There's ten dresses in the car in your size. Quit stalling. Shower. Go. Now." Nat waved her off.
Skylar stared at her challengingly, trying to think of another valid argument or decide whether she should call her bluff on the polite dragging. "Why are you doin' this? I don't mean to sound rude but what difference does it make to you if I'm there or not?"
Natasha gazed at her for a long moment, as if she was considering being snarky or giving a real answer. She exhaled and the smile that crept to her lips made Skylar believe it was her first genuine one since she'd arrived. The mask was down, the tough as nails facade disappeared if only for a moment and she spoke softly. "Because you're Sam's family and now Sam's our family. So that makes us family too."
Skylar shied from her intense gaze, tears welled in her eyes but to hide the emotion she smirked a little cockily, "Sam tell you to use the family card?"
Natasha laughed and Steve chuckled admitting, "he doesn't know we're here."
"But we do know, Sam wants you there," said Nat, "And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't make me spend the night watching Sam pout because you're not there."
"We're definitely family, manipulation and shit I don't want to hear." sighed Skylar lazily walking out of the room toward the shower.
Skylar was grateful Nat had taken them through the back entrance to avoid the paparazzi outside of Stark Tower waiting to get the money shot of one of the many celebrities, high ranking officials, and super heroes attending the Stark Expo Party.
She was further thankful that Natasha had forced her to shower and dress accordingly. The few people she'd spied before they snuck down the back alley proved that sweats and dirty hair were definitely not part of the dress code for the evening.
However, she was second guessing - for the millionth time - the black floor length dress that she had chosen to wear. The open split up to her left thigh and the low rounded neck exposing the curve of her braless breasts felt a little too revealing. Regardless of how amazing the fabric felt against her skin and Nat's reassurance, Skylar didn't trust that the magical tape would hold her modesty in place.
"Stop fussing!" Nat scolded her when she tried to tug the dress up at the boobs but down her exposed thigh. "You look amazing!"
"I feel like my boobs are going to fall out," she whined shuffling to fall in stride with Nat, "and the slightest breeze is going to expose my panties."
"I told you not to wear any."
"Yeah, cause that woulda made me feel a whole lot better."
A drink, very strong, rich in flavor and color, would make her feel better, and Nat, seemingly reading her mind, headed straight for the bar, dragging Skylar by the hand as soon as they entered the main floor from the kitchen.
"So you can't actually read minds, then?" Skylar concluded when Nat handed her a champagne flute.
"What?" Nat queried, wrapping her lips around the rim of her glass.
Skylar shook her head and chuckled, taking a delicate sip of her own drink and turning to face the room. She scanned the faces. A few celebrities she recognized milled around, but she couldn't locate Sam and Gabby. She took a minute to decide whether that was a good thing or not. Did she need more time to prepare herself, or was it best to get it over with?
Her internal debate was interrupted when a familiar and welcome face appeared among the ones she didn't know, being escorted by a pretty brunette she didn't recognise.
"That sourpuss look is ruining that amazing dress, honey," Mason told her, pulling her into a hug and kissing her cheek.
Skylar didn't care about the insult, she was simply thankful he was there. "What're you doing here?"
"You're welcome," said Nat grinning proudly. "Figured you'd want the moral support."
Skylar thanked her and, truth be told, having Mason there made her feel significantly more relaxed. The pretty brunette who had escorted Mason through the crowd offered her hand, "Maria Hill. So are we ready to do this?"
"Do what?" Skylar glanced between the newly formed group.
"Phase one of my plan," Nat's brow waggled excitedly as she sipped her champagne.
"Plan?" Skylar queried. Nat offered no response, just breezed away and called for them to follow. "Nat, you still haven't told me the plan!" Skylar whined as she tailed the spy.
Sam stood beside the tall barstool that Gabby was seated on, his arm draped over the back of the chair. He sipped the beer he had but it wouldn't be long before he required something stronger. Steve was next to him, and whereas he looked bewildered and totally out of his depth, Gabby couldn't have been happier. Her smile beamed when she marvelled at the faces of every person she recognized. It only faltered when she asked Sam if he knew them and he told her no.
Sam didn't mind a good party, especially when the alcohol was on someone else's dime, but he wasn't in the mood to play the dutiful sidekick to Captain America, fake smile for the cameras, or have to put up with Gabby's excited gasps every time a different celebrity caught her eye.
"Oh my god, that's Leonardo Dicaprio," Gabby exclaimed louder than Sam would have liked. "Do you know him?"
Sam shook his head and took a long gulp of his beer. He was in no way a jealous guy. He didn't care that she cared more about the people in the room than him, he just wished she was slightly more discreet about it. He didn't want to call attention to them for fear he'd have to introduce Gabby to the world as his 'girlfriend'. It felt wrong in every way. And it was, because it should have been Skylar by his side, introducing her to the world. After all, she was his world.
Steve was talking, or rather, complaining about why they even had to be there, and Sam could hear him but he wasn't listening.
"Oh my god!" Gabby gasped again, "that's Tom Cruise! Can you introduce me?"
"No," said Sam more abruptly than intended. "The only people here I know are Cap, and Tony."
"And them," Steve corrected, nudging Sam's arm to get his attention, then pointing in the direction of Nat, Maria, Skylar, and Mason making their way through the crowd.
The group walking toward them was a sight to behold, Nat and Maria had replaced their uniforms with cocktail dresses and looked spectacular. Sam appreciated how beautiful they both were. And maybe he was biased but they paled in comparison to Skylar. She was something else entirely. He'd spent the last few weeks fantasizing about feeling her skin against his own and now he could see most of that skin. He needed a minute to quiet the visions in his mind and stop the effect they were having on his anatomy.
Steve stepped forward, greeted each lady in turn with a half hug and kiss on the cheek and shook Mason's hand. Sam followed his lead and introduced Gabriella to Natasha and Maria.
"How's the hand?" Steve asked Skylar once greetings had been exchanged and the group had gathered around the table.
"Bruised," she admitted holding it up to show him.
Sam accessed the steadily progressing bruise across her knuckles, "What happened?"
"She punched me," Steve shrugged nonchalantly.
Skylar scoffed, "You deserved it!"
"It was a misunderstanding."
"Next time, call before you come over."
"Come over?" Gabby questioned brows raised high and a suggestive smirk on her red painted lips. "Is this," she pointed back and forth between Cap and Skylar, "a thing?" Her excitement was palpable and she began to rant before anyone could respond. "That'd be awesome. We could double date, go as a foursome to all the parties, dinners, movies, award shows."
Sam put a hand on her shoulder and raised his voice above her dreamy rambling. "Babe!"
"It's not a thing," Steve offered with an awkward smile.
"And even if it were," Maria interjected, "None of that would be possible." Maria waited until Gabby's full attention was on her then continued. "After tonight we need to get you somewhere secure, cut off all social media, keep you behind closed doors away from the press. Maybe even change your name."
"What?" Gabby stammered, "What do you mean?"
"We need to protect you," offered Sam.
Maria explained further, her tone flat and direct. "We can't flaunt you to the world, it puts a target on your back. Any potential threats would see you as a weakness, a way to get to Sam."
"But I thought," Gabby's brow furrowed and she cleared her throat audibly as if trying to find the right words. "I, um...I thought we were going to announce the baby to the world."
"Oh, we will," Maria confirmed. "Once we know everything is okay, we'll release a statement but no pictures. Don't worry, we'll keep you safe and hidden. Guards, fortified doors, it might be a little lonely but Sam will be with you when he's not working. You'll want for nothing, Tony has built a compound that has everything; pool, gym, screening room, nursery," Maria winked and leant in as if to speak privately, "you need a live-in Nanny?"
"But what about my life? My family? My friends?"
Maria further explained as if it were the most obvious answer. "Of course they'll have to get security clearance and we can have them escorted in for pre-arranged visits."
"What about the wedding?" Gabby asked, and Mason spluttered around his glass. Mason's semi-choking and Nat's attempt to help mop him up went unnoticed, or Gabby was too absorbed in Maria's declarations, "I've always wanted a big wedding."
Sam drowned out her wedding plans and zeroed in on Skylar who stared back at him with just as much, if not more, intensity.
He had planned on telling her. Had tried calling her multiple times, to let her know Nat's scheme and to avoid the very situation they were in. He hadn't wanted to blindside her. Though originally, he hadn't wanted to give her false hope, now he needed her to know there was a plan in place and that he hadn't, nor would he, give up on them. But Skylar hadn't afforded him the opportunity, she'd ditched his calls.
So here they were, locked in a silent argument. She stared daggers at him, nostrils flaring and her chest heaving with every breath. Sam grimaced but refused to look away. Confusion and upset bled into fury, and she ground her teeth, muscles rippling along her jaw.
Sam felt everyone's eyes on them. Well, those who knew what reaction the revelation had caused. But he couldn't break eye contact with her, he needed her to see how sorry he was because he couldn't say it aloud. Steve purposely stepped between them. The back of his head blocked Sam's view of her, and he released a breath he hadn't been aware he'd taken.
"Skylar," said Steve, more of a command than a request, "dance with me."
Skylar took his outstretched hand, and Sam watched as she allowed him to lead her to the dancefloor.
"We didn't know about the engagement," explained Steve after less than a minute of swaying with Skylar on the shiny black dance floor. "But, y'know it's not his choice. The PR guys have been hounding him, they're worried about the image of…"
"I really don't want to talk about it," she interrupted. She hadn't meant it to sound as hostile as it came out, so she explained, "I just want to dance with Captain America, be the envy of every woman - and I suspect a few men - here, rather than be the envious one."
Steve chuckled as he spun her out, twirled her under his arm and pulled her back into his chest. "You know it's you he wants."
"Steve, please." she groaned, exasperated. "I know you're trying to be a good friend, and he's lucky to have you and Nat looking out for him, but just stop. Please."
Steve inhaled to further protest, and Skylar pulled back to look in his eyes, "I will punch you again."
He conceded with a shake of his head and spun her again. Steve indulged her. She knew he would continue to dance all night if she requested. He'd give her an excuse to not have to return to the table as long as she wanted, but she knew it was unavoidable.
After too little time, but hopefully enough that the conversation had been steered to other topics, Skylar reluctantly thanked Steve then allowed him to lead her through the throngs of people back to their friends.
Fresh glasses of champagne and bottles of beer littered the table. Skylar focused on the drinks and not on Sam whispering something to Gabby.
Mason handed her a full glass with a suggestive smile and a waggle of his brow. She smirked, knowing full well she'd have to give him a play by play of her dance with Steve later. Mason's smile grew wider as he focused on something over her shoulder. She knew the smile well. It was his fake 'it's so nice to see you' grin, the one he saved for the assholes they had to deal with on a daily basis at work. When she heard her name being called in a familiar monotone, she knew it was her asshole of a boss, Jerry.
Of course he'd be at a Stark Industries party. Stark Industries owned an NFL team and provided top of the range training equipment. But why did he have to be there when she was wearing a more than revealing dress? He'd always been the leering type and now she'd have to fight off the urge to vomit on his shoes when he took in her appearance and made an inappropriate remark.
She sipped her champagne. Needed the courage and slight buzz to be polite before turning to face him and the fake smile she'd plastered on thawed into a genuine grin seeing the company Jerry kept.
"Mike."
She exclaimed his name the same time he said hers and they simultaneously stepped toward one another to embrace.
The hug and ensuing conversation lasted a minute or so longer than it should have been but Skylar didn't care. While she was wrapped up in the familiar, tall, blond man's arms, the rest of the room disappeared, and she was transported back to her college years.
Mason, ever the personal assistant - always on the job - introduced Jerry to the people around the table, then her boss took over and introduced the other guest as Harvey, the CEO of the NFL's London office.
"So," Jerry stated when Skylar and Mike finally parted and took notice of the others. "You two know each other."
"We dated in college," Skylar explained and caught Mike's eye. They both laughed and shied from the other's gaze.
"Why'd you break up?" Gabby asked. The evil smirk she'd used to tell Skylar she was pregnant, fused to her lips again as if she hoped it would be a scandalous tale.
"I left for London," Mike told her, "and Skylar went home. Long distance never would've worked."
"Seems like it worked out for both of us though," Skylar commented nudging her shoulder into Mike's. "Mister Hot Shot lawyer for the NFL."
"Say's you," Mike laughed, "Mrs. CEO…" he cut himself off quickly and his laughter crinkled eyes lifted from Skylar's to Jerry as if asking for permission.
Skylar watched them have a silent conversation and then Jerry clapped his hands together excitedly. "I guess now is as good a time as any. Why wait until Monday?" he started, smiling broadly and putting his arm around Skylar's shoulder. "We want to offer you the promotion, but rather than one step up, it'll be two. Harvey, here," he slapped the other gentleman beside him on the back fondly. "Is retiring. So we would very much like you to be the chief executive officer for the London office."
She looked from Jerry to Mike to Harvey and back again as if waiting for the punchline. But when Mike nodded and smiled charmingly she understood it wasn't a joke.
"Should I take your stunned silence as acceptance?" Jerry laughed, tucking her into his side and shaking her unnecessarily.
The shock had taken her breath for a moment and she needed a second to process. She locked eyes with Sam, and she wasn't sure if he looked proud or challenging. He seemed conflicted, proud that she had achieved her goal, but daring her to accept the job because they both knew it meant she would be leaving.
It seemed like fate, perfect timing. It's what she had wanted, exactly what she had been working so hard for, more than what she had been striving for. Moving to London hadn't been part of the plan but she'd work out the finer details. Plus the added bonus of Mike, someone she knew to help her settle in. And loathe to admit it, she liked the idea of having an escape from Sam and Gabby. Arguably Skylar leaving would make the whole situation easier on Sam too, relieve some of his stress over their dilemma.
"Um, yes," said Skylar quietly, shrugging out of his embrace and averting her gaze from Sam. She cleared her throat and spoke louder with more conviction. "Yes! I accept. But I have one condition."
"There's the woman for the job," Jerry praised.
"I get to choose my successor," she advised and without waiting for confirmation her term would be accepted, she walked to stand beside Mason, putting her arm around his shoulders, "Mason gets my current job."
Jerry smirked and nodded, "as I suspected. We'll work out the details Monday." He confirmed shaking Skylar's then Mason's hand congratulating them both. "Excuse us we have a little more mingling to do."
Jerry sauntered off with Harvey in toe and Mike quickly turned to Skylar.
"I gotta go," Mike told her and was obviously upset at the fact. "Make sure they don't make any deals they shouldn't," he rolled his eyes as if he were used to it. He handed her his phone and she dialled in her number. "Come find me later?"
Skylar nodded before placing a light kiss on his cheek. "Definitely."
Mason had enough self control to wait until they were out of ear shot before he squealed and hugged Skylar tightly.
"I need some air," Sam announced.
Skylar watched from Mason's embrace as Sam dodged behind people and swiftly disappeared into the crowd. The rest of the group congratulated her and Mason with hugs and well wishes.
Steve announced they needed champagne to celebrate, but she knew it was more than that when he headed in the same direction Sam had fled. Skylar knew she'd have to talk to Sam sooner rather than later to hash out all the things that had been said with tension filled glares and lingering looks. But first, she'd need a way to occupy Gabby. At least that was the excuse she fed herself when she didn't immediately follow after Steve.
Truth be told, she didn't know if she had the strength for another heartbreaking conversation. She didn't want to talk about Sam's pending nuptials of her promotion. Both led to the same conclusion: they were leaving each other behind.
If she were going to broach the subjects, and inevitably knew she would have to, she needed more champagne. Then she'd go talk to Sam. Maybe if she were buzzed, the alcohol would help numb some of the heartache she knew would only get worse.
Part 3 - 11th March 2020.