Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, ABC, other the Avengers. Just Sera.


The commandos left that afternoon with Clint flying them out, thanking us for the visit, and we promised to come visit them soon in DC. It was not even five minutes after, that I asked the guys if I could go for a drive by myself.

"Why Angel?" Steve asked, confused by my sudden desire to be alone.

"Something my Dad said. I just kind of want to be alone for a few hours," I said, kissing each of my babies softly.

"Of course. Can you tell us where you're going at least?" Bucky asked, as he set Elijah down to change.

"It's personal. I promise to tell you both when I get back." I smiled softly, hoping they would understand. Nodding, Steve kissed my temple, "Have fun, and be safe."

"I'm taking my gun, but I hope not to need it," I said, grabbing my keys and my leather jacket. Running out the door, I grabbed a couple apples on the way past the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Wanda asked, smiling as I ran. I stopped and smiled, "Running."

"Dressed like that?" she chuckled.

"Well… I'll explain when I get back." I said, dashing down the stairs.

"Yes," I sighed softly as I got in the car. Turning the engine over, I started up the vertical propulsion systems and when I had achieved a five-foot ascent I started forward, out of the hanger. I set in coordinates, wiping a tear from my eyes as I thought about home.

"ARSENAL, stealth mode," I said, hoping they wouldn't try to invade my privacy.

"Yes Ma'am," The AI replied, as I punched it. I made it within an hour, partially in thanks to the upgrades I had done on the car. Touching down in the driveway of a farmhouse, I took the cloaking off. A woman came out of the house with a shotgun and I smiled.

"Still agile as ever," I called out as I stepped out of the car slowly.

"I'm not that old dear," She laughed, as she recognized me.

"No, you will never be old Janice," I smirked.

"I hear you found yourself a home," Her voice said softly as she met me at the bottom of the porch.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I haven't come until now."

"I don't ask questions. When the little girl I helped raised, asks me to move into her childhood home because her mother is sick, I don't bat an eye. I keep the grounds up, and keep him fed. He's a bit of a pig some days," She laughed.

"My mother would really appreciate it as well." I said, hugging her.

"I was out there yesterday, picking weeds. It looks beautiful in that meadow," She said, as I offered her a cheque.

"No dear." She said, putting it back in my hand, "I do this for you and your mother. I have a job in town anyways."

"This is the least I can do for you Janice. It's a lot to ask of someone to move, to keep up a house that isn't your own."

"You mother was loved, let that be enough." She said, lifting my chin and smiling softly. I nodded and moved to look at the barn.

"I'm heading out, into town for a few hours. Go on. He's been missing you," she said softly, before walking back up the porch. I squared my shoulders and marched over.

Opening the barn, I found him munching on hay in the corner.

"Sunchaser," I said softly, as his ears perked up. He neighed softly, turning and walking over happily to me. His bright eyes glancing me once over, checking to see if I was real.

"I missed you too boy," I smiled as he nudged my stomach. Sniffing I laughed, "Yes I smell like dog. His name is Joey and you guys might meet someday."

"Yeah, I had two babies as well. I'll let you meet them someday too," I said, pulling out an apple from my bag. He greedily dug in while I went to grab his saddle.

"I know the girl from down the road has been running you around the field, but I wanted to get out a little farther today." I smiled, putting a blanket over his back, and following it with his saddle. Strapping it on, I threw my jacket to the side, and moved to change my shoes. Slipping on my boots I laughed.

"How is it that whenever I put them on, I feel like I'm home," I smiled at Sunchaser. He waited patiently, and seemed to be buzzing with excitement.

"Well, you certainly are a gentleman," I laughed as I got on.

"Okay boy, go!" I said and he took off. Flying out over the fields, past the trees and fences, I laughed. He opened up as we ran over the hills, neighing in delight.

"Home," I cried, as we approached a meadow.

"Okay boy," I said, pulling the reins lightly. He came to a gradual stop, and I jumped off. Slowly approaching the willow tree, and the marker that stood beneath its boughs.

"Hi momma," I said wiping a tear.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited sooner." I said sitting down beside the marker.

"I've been a little distracted. The last time I was here was just before Daddy got into trouble. I had been with Phil and his team as a consultant, and everything kind of went downhill from there. A terrorist organization threatened Daddy, and attacked his home in Malibu, leading the world to think he was dead. He's fine though. He and Pepper got married, finally!"

"And then after that I quit SHIELD. I'm sure you would have never let me join if I told you about it, but Hydra had been in there for awhile. I only saw Steve taking them down. Remember I told you about Yasha," I said, smiling at the memory, "Well he turned out to have been Hydra's weapon. He was turned to their side in the 40's by brainwashing. They tried to wipe away the man he had been, but didn't get the desired affect. Sergeant James Barnes. Bucky, is his nickname, was Steve's best friend from the 40's."

"So anyways, after I gave Bucky his mind back, it was about a month after that we all approached the idea of dating. Mom, if you saw these two, you'd know why I couldn't pick between them. Ever." I chuckled as Sunchaser nibbled on the grass near the base of the weeping willow.

"So after about three months, I found out I'm pregnant with twins. That's right, you're a grandmother now. Don't worry, they will know you. I've got pictures and stories that will stay with them for life. Anyways, I had a child with both. It's confusing but just trust me when I say that fate couldn't have picked a more perfect time." I sighed.

"Elijah Howard, and Calliope Arya Rogers-Barnes. They really are beautiful momma, you'd love cuddling with them." I said, looking at the background on my phone.

"So while I was pregnant, I was with SHIELD as their psychiatrist. Phil started it back up in secret, and I helped with start up funds and such. I had run from the guys as they started talking about marriage and I got scared. They found me about two weeks later after Phil ratted me out, and we flew to Greece for a small ceremony. Everything was working out at SHIELD. But when one of their agents got powers, Steve and Bucky thought it would be time to bring in the rest of the Avengers. So everyone was helping out in some way, when the twins decided to be born."

"About two months after that, Dad got paranoid about another alien invasion, created an AI that decided the world should evolve. And to evolve, that meant rebirthing the earth with a global catastrophe that would wipe out humanity. So we stopped him, got five new team members, and moved from New York city to upstate near the Catskill mountains. It's beautiful up there."

"We added the SHIELD agents to the team and found out Hydra's original plan. Man did I wish you'd warn me about that, cause it would have saved us a lot of trouble."

"The team overheard me telling Natasha about your lineage, and needless to say, they weren't impressed that I had kept it from them. Clint," I paused, "Clint shot me as I was trying to lock myself in a cell. I ended up losing my right ovary and it terminated the pregnancy I had. I was only 5 weeks along. I've since forgiven him though."

"Anyways, they forgave me after about a month of being catatonic. I wasn't doing so well momma. I wanted to die," I said, hugging my knees to my chest.

"Couldn't leave the twins, didn't want to leave Steve or Bucky. But then they told me they loved me, no matter whose great granddaughter I had been. I try hard everyday to prove to them I can be trusted. I promised to tell them I'd been here after I got back tonight."

"So, I've been busy making fake weapons for Hydra, and planning an ambush. We are going to cut off their heads once and for all, I promise Momma." I said, touching the marker softly.

"So, I basically gained 5 new sisters over the last year." I laughed.

"Come to think of it," I said, looking at the date on my phone, I sat up in surprise.

"Wow, it's our anniversary tomorrow!" I whispered to myself, smiling.

"And the guys probably won't remember, so I'll cook them a nice dinner," I said, before turning back to the grave marker.

"I miss you," I said, crying softly.

"I wish you could have been there for everything. I wish you could have met them both, and you'd know how much I love them. To see us get married, and your grandchildren being born. I wanted you there so badly. I called Pepper Mom for the first time that day. She's like my best friend, next to Natasha." I smiled, wiping my tears.

"Momma, I wear your pendant everyday, to hold you close to my heart. You are my focus," I said sighing softly, "I'm sorry I won't be joining you for awhile, like I thought when I joined SHIELD. I was reckless and suicidal, cause I had nothing to live for. I hope you'll forgive me for being selfish down here, now that I have a lot to live for."

"You said you wanted me to live, and be free. To do that, I have to work and fight for the worlds freedom. I just hope my kids know how much I had to sacrifice to ensure they grow up in a free world."

The wind blew gently over the meadows, and travelled up to rustle through the trees, and through my hair. Laughing, I welcomed the feeling of leaves tickling my face, as if peppering me with soft kisses. It was almost as if I heard the melody, because I began to sing with the highs and lows of the wind.

Dancing bears, painted wings

Things I almost remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December

Someone holds me safe and warm

Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory

Far away, long ago

Glowing dim as an ember

Things my heart used to know

Once upon a December

Someone holds me safe and warm

Horses prance through a silver storm

Figures dancing gracefully

Across my memory

Far away, long ago

Glowing dim as an ember

Things my heart used to know

Things it yearns to remember

And a song someone sings

Once upon a December

On the wind

Cross the sea

Hear this song and remember

Soon you'll be

Home with me

Once upon a December

"I love you Momma," I said, getting up and dusting myself off. Sunchaser looked like he wanted to run, and I smiled.

"Okay boy," I said as I mounted him quickly. He took off at top speeds, over the hills, around the property, and through the creek, laughing and enjoying the wind in my hair. It was maybe half an hour later that I had Sunchaser take us back to the barn.

"You really needed that run boy," I giggled as he pranced around happily.

"Okay, time for a brush," I smiled as he came to stand in the middle of the barn. I was taking off the saddle and blankets when I heard a twig snap outside. Crouching, I looked around, not seeing anyone in the doorway.

Standing up and whipping out my gun, I asked, "Who's there?"

"It's us," Bucky said, confusing me as he and Steve came to stand in the doorway of the barn.

"How did you get here? How did you know where I was?" I asked confused as I put the safety back on and holstered the gun.

"You're Dad flew us here in a Quinjet, but we told him we would get a ride back with you."

"How did you know where I was?" I asked, wondering why they would follow me.

"You didn't make it easy. We'd been looking over the expense reports and seeing where supplies were heading. Some went to the Playground, or the Cocoon, and some went to us. But another order went to a little house in Massachusetts," Bucky smiled.

"We were confused when we saw it was hay and feed," Steve said as I nodded.

"I used part of my SHIELD paycheck to keep him fed these last 7 years." I explained, "Then I used Dad's money, cause it was barely noticeable."

"You could have mentioned you owned a horse."

"Then I would have had to explain where I kept him. And why I owned a house in Massachusetts." I said, looking at them both.

"We don't want to make it seem like we don't trust you, because we do. But why keep it from us?" Steve asked, slowly approaching Sunchaser.

"Because he is only one reason I still have this house. The north field, under a Weeping Willow, is my mom's final resting place." I said softly as I brushed Sunchaser. The guys were quiet as I groomed my horse.

"We did it again," Steve said, resting his forehead on the crown of my head. I sighed and turned slowly.

"I have been dishonest with my husbands for far too long. If my punishment is that you guys follow me everywhere, then so be it." I sighed, as Bucky approached the horse.

"You're Dad was curious first as to where you'd go. You didn't seem like yourself after he mentioned that song we played the twins."

"My mother," I smiled, "She took me to see the movie Anastasia when I was 11 years old, and would play the song whenever she was thinking about my father."

"It used to mean heartache for me, because I didn't want her to be upset over what a jerk he was for leaving. But then I realized over the years that it was her reliving the best memories of him."

"It was a song I grew up with, and it meant so much to me. I sang it subconsciously while I was preparing dinner for my father and Pepper, the first year we knew each other."

"I didn't even think about it until today. And it got me thinking about my mother, and how I hadn't been to visit in well over two years." I said, putting the brush down and taking off Sunchaser's hackamore. He seemed thrilled, and nudged me gently in the stomach.

"I'm sorry we didn't trust you to tell us on your own time," Steve said, sitting down on a bale of hay.

"Me too ангел," Bucky said.

"Do you want to know why I didn't tell anyone about this place?" I said softly, sitting between them.

"I wanted to keep it to myself awhile longer. Because while my studio is my escape and the way I express myself, when I'm riding Sunchaser, I feel…. free." I smiled at the thought.

"I don't have responsibilities, or things I have to do. I am just… Sera." I said, putting my face in my hands, and sobbing softly.

"Hey," Steve said softly, pulling my hands away as Bucky rubbed my back.

"We think Just Sera is pretty amazing," Bucky said, laying his head against mine gently.

"I just want a day to be myself. Not an Avenger, not a SHIELD agent, or Tony Stark's daughter. Just Sera," I said, as Steve chuckled.

"You know I was thinking the same thing."

"I want to go on vacation, forget who I am for a week, get lost…" I said before chuckling.

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell," I sang.

"And for once it might be grand, to have someone understand, I want so much more than they've got planned."

"If this is what makes you happy, why don't you bring him up to base?" Steve said after a long silence.

"Cause then I'd have to share him," I grumbled, "And I like being away from base. It-"

"Is your escape. But you can't go running off whenever you'd like," Bucky teased.

"I rarely get out here as it is."

"That lady, Janice? She has been keeping up the house for how many years?" Steve asked.

"Eight. I love these hills though. They've been my home for so long." I said, sighing.

"Remember what you said to us right after Thor left a couple months ago?" Bucky mentioned.

"Home is wherever you two are," I smiled.

"Home can be a number of different places." Steve smiled.

"I remember the apartment in Brooklyn, our mobile camp around Germany, DC, Stark Tower, the Playground, and now our base upstate." Steve said, listing off several places.

"You can add this to your list," Bucky chuckled. Steve stood, asking for my hand, and I took it confused.

"Should we go home now?" He asked softly.

"I just want to do one thing first." I smirked.