Author's Note: Thank you again to Arwen the Storyteller for great ideas! I couldn't have done it without them and is one of the reasons why I love writing Orchid a lot.
Note: So looking back at a New Start, I changing the name of Riley's mother from Hayley Smith to Abbie Smith, Abbie is portrayed by Adelaide Kane while her father Dean Smith is portrayed by Paul Wesley
Ayo was pressing some bandages around some of the bruises on Orchid. Orchid sitting on a chair while her friend was tending to her. T'Challa was livid after Natasha's betrayal and stormed to Ross right away.
"I wish I was there to fight with you, but someone had to make sure to get the medical supplies once you two were done fighting" She said as she pressed a rag on Orchid's wound which caused the Queen to hiss in pain but Ayo chuckled "You're always so dramatic, when you got shot you didn't even whimper as they took the bullet out"
"Because I just wanted to get out of there and go after those who shot me.. I didn't even care of the pain"
"Yeah.. That's why T'Challa did it for you"
"Yeah.."
Soon they heard loud bangs on the wall near them, and soon some shouting. Orchid and Ayo looked at each other for a moment before Ayo helped Orchid to her feet and helped her towards the source of noise and saw Felix punching the wall repeating while Tony and some of the others were trying to stop him.
"He's dead!" Felix shouted as he kept punching the wall, and turned towards Tony "Sean is dead, Janet is thrown in jail like she's some kind of criminal and she didn't even have enough time to mourn for his death because she was grabbed and thrown down.. She didn't deserve this, Sean didn't deserve this" Felix said as Tony frowned
"Sean knew what would happen, that he could die at any second" Tony started but Felix narrowed his eyes "Every mission that the Snakes were on, they would treat it like their last.. He wouldn't expect it if he was fighting friends.. People who were his family" He said and Natasha sighed
"Felix.. Please calm down" She said as he scowled at her "I'm not going to calm down.. Just because you had S.J on a leash and were able to calm him in a second but still had feelings for someone else and even thought about leaving S.J for him. So don't even speak about calming down because you probably hurt my brother the most out of his life" He said and Natasha flinched and backed away, Orchid trying to make her way towards Felix
"Felix.. I'm so sorry" She whispered and he turned to her, angry now.
"You couldn't even put a force field up.. One to make sure that tower didn't fall on him.. You just had to barley make it and you didn't even think of him. I hope your search for Barnes is worth it" He said going towards her but Orchid saw Ayo standing next to her, tense. But T'Challa entered the room and stood in front of Orchid
"You do not blame her for his death.. Sean's death was an accident. Leave her out of this" T'Challa warned lowly and Felix looked over at the team, hurt in his eyes as he began to walk off. "I'm done.. Before I lose my sister as well, as if she's not rotting in a jail cell already"
After a talk with Bucky, Connie brought a pistol and placed it into her boot. Bucky had raided Natasha's gun rack while Riley went towards hers and frowned before looking at Steve
"If Tony comes with backup.. We don't have the others. We'll be out numbered" She muttered and Steve went towards her and rubbed her back "We'll get through this, and Connie's love for Bucky.." He said turning to Connie and Bucky, Bucky showing Connie one of Natasha's guns "Her love for him is something great" He said and she smiled softly before Bucky went towards the entrance and Steve joined him and soon the doors opened and Steve chuckled at a memory
"You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck? Mary, You and I?"
"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs? I know Mary was upset and I offered to carry her home"
"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead. She wasn't happy that you were paying more attention to Mary"
"What was her name again?" He asked and Steve chuckled "Dolores. You called her Dot."
"I remember I was so in love with Mary.. I wanted to be the man that she settled down with in the end when we were growing up and I saw a life with her. But she loved you too much, even when you were the little skinny kid. I was jealous of you for having the heart of the most beautiful girl in New York" He began, Connie and Riley were behind, listening
"Two best friends in love with the same girl.. What could happen?" Steve laughed and Bucky smiled and shook his head "It changed one day when a girl mysteriously appeared out of nowhere.. Meeting me just a week before I was shipped out" Bucky said turning to Connie with a small smile, Connie having a huge smile on her face
"Mary may have broken my heart, but Connie was the one that had put it back together.. Then meeting S.J. I didn't know that was he was yours and Mary's son. But I felt some sort of protective side to him when he grew up and I saw so much of Mary in him." He said and Steve placed an arm on his shoulder
"Thank you for looking out for my son, even if you weren't in the right place of mind.. Thank you" He said and Bucky smiled and laughed for a moment "Since we're old men, about to be 100 years old soon.. I never asked your permission to take Connie out on a date and for being her boyfriend for a short time"
"Oh trust me.. I wanted to punch you once I found out that out of all the jerks in the world.. She ended up with you" He said and Bucky shrugged with a small smirk
"What can I say.. I'm the good looking one out of us" He said as Connie and Riley laughed, it was good to see that Steve and Bucky were talking.. Just like the old times.
The door opened and the four of them were ready, Connie staying by Bucky's side while Riley stood with Steve. Bucky looking everywhere so no one would jump Connie or hurt her in any way.
"Steve, after we find this guy.. Can I pull you aside to tell you something?" Riley asked and Steve looked at her with an worried expression "Is everything okay?" He asked and Riley nodded "Of course, it's just been something I wanted to tell you for a bit" She said and Steve nodded and they were going through some rooms and stairs until they heard a loud boom from the elevator and Bucky whipped around, making Connie go behind him while Riley stood by Steve, ready to fight anything that came through the door. The door slowly opened and it showed to be Iron Man himself.
Everyone was tense, Bucky stood in front of Connie ready to take any hit. Riley felt like she couldn't move and Steve stood next to her. Ready to throw his shield. But Tony spoke
"You seem a little defensive." He said while Steve made his way towards Tony, Riley following behind. The Shield covering them both
"It's been a long day." Steve said as Tony looked over at Bucky "At ease, Soldier. I'm not here for you or your lady. You can relax."
"Then why are you here?
"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself." Tony said turning
"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork" Steve said with a small smile on his face as he relaxed a bit, putting his shield down before Riley smiling brightly before going towards Tony and hugging him, Tony chuckling and hugging her as tight "I missed you Riley.. Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah.. I took a couple of bumps on the head but I'll survive" She laughed and Tony took something out of his hand and placed out into her own and he closed her hand for her and she opened it to see a small device and she looked up confused at him
"I always told you I would make you an Iron Man suit and never got around to finish it until after Ultron but after modifying the suit and everything.. I finally made you The Iron Maiden. I've been wanting to give you this but after all the fights and this war.. I haven't had enough time to give you this" He said and Riley looked at wide eyes and Tony placed the device on her arm "Whenever you're ready to use it, just press the button and there you go" Tony said as Riley smiled and she grabbed Tony's hand
"Our families would be proud of how far we've come.. Your mother.. My mother.. Mary and Peggy.. They would be happy on how far you've come" She whispered and Tony chuckled "I'm not the only one to take credit.. You've grown from the small four year old I would babysit when our families would go out to dinner"
"You're the best" She laughed and Connie and Steve shared a look, a look of knowing.. That they needed to tell Riley and Tony the truth soon about the true death of their families.
"It's good to see you Tony" Steve said, not happy about breaking the moment but they had limited time and Tony turned to Steve
"You too, Cap." He said and turned to Bucky was still had his gun out, Connie stood next to him with nothing and Tony gave Bucky a look "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop.." He said as Steve gave Bucky a signal and Bucky lowered his gun. All of them kept walking, waiting to get to the right room but what they didn't know was that Black Panther and Orchid were following behind them.
They finally entered the main room, they noticed the room was cold.. Scary looking. Riley walked beside Tony and Steve while Connie and Bucky were behind. Connie with a frown on her face
"Where is he...?" She whispered and Bucky became tense "What the hell?" He whispered once he saw what was in the pods.. The Soldiers were shot in the head, they didn't have a chance to fight or anything.. As if they died peacefully in their sleep.
"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." A voice on the speaker said as Connie looked horrified as her and Bucky stopped in front of a Winter Soldier's body "Did you really think I wanted more of you?" He sneered as he had a small smirk on his face once looking at Tony and Riley
"I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here." Zemo appears in a control room. Steve stood in front of Riley and hurls his shield but it flies back towards him, he caught it and he frowned as Zemo spoke "Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets."
"I'm betting Riley and I could beat that." Tony called as he looked over at Riley, Riley looking down at the device on her arm and she looked up at Tony and nodded
"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark and Miss Smith. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came." He said as Steve shook his head in disapproval
"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve questioned coming closer to the glass that Zemo was standing behind. What he didn't know was that T'Challa and Orchid were in the shadows.
Orchid looked over at T'Challa who was looking back at her, she knew she couldn't see the look in his eyes but she knew.. He was hurt. Orchid had tears in her eyes as she clung on to T'Challa's hands before she finally stormed out, T'Challa following behind her.
"I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you and your family. I followed you. But now that you're standing here, I just realized... there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw." Zemo chuckled humorlessly and Steve followed as he realized the accent
"You're Sokovian. Is that what this is about?" He questioned as Connie stepped forward "Sokovia wasn't suppose to blow up, we lost family as well"
"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise." He said softly as Steve looked confused before it clicked "You lost someone" He said as Riley went towards him and stood beside him, Steve wanting to grab on to Riley's hand
"I lost everyone. And so will you.. Your family.. The one you love" Zemo said looking over at Riley who was confused as she looked at Steve "What's happening?" She whispered as suddenly two TV screens came to life as two tapes were inserted.. One with The Date December 16th 1991, the other was labeled Abbie Smith.. Riley's mother.
Tony saw the tape of the date that his and Riley's families had died as he froze before looking at the screen before looking at Zemo "What is this?!" He questioned as Zemo shook his head
"An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumples from within? That's dead... forever" He whispered as suddenly the first tape played, Steve freezing once he knew what was happening.. Riley and Tony were gonna find out the truth.
"Dean.." Abbie called out weakly towards her husband, she saw her husband was deceased.. They had crashed into a tree and Dean wasn't wearing a seatbelt. He had flown out of the car and into the tree head first.. He didn't make it
"No... Dean" She whispered as she saw Howard was outside of the car.. He had tried to reach Dean but he was too weak and was now crawling on the floor
"Help my wife..." Howard called softly for help as he kept crawling "Help my goddaughter"
"Maria.. Are you okay?" Abbie whispered as she saw Maria was still in her seat, her head resting and Abbie squeezed Maria's shoulder "I'll get us out of here.. I promise" Abbie whispered as Maria nodded weakly, Abbie saw a figure passing by the back of the car and towards Howard and Abbie took out her gun and started to load it.. She needed to protect Howard.
Dean and Abbie were ordered to protect Howard and Maria to deliverer the super soldier serum safely. Howard had somehow made the serum and Mary didn't approve of it at first but she gave in. Abbie remembered saying goodbye to her four year old Daughter Riley before leaving her with Tony and Mary.
Abbie saw the figure grab Howard by the hair and he whined in pain before he looked horrified as he said loudly "Sergeant Barnes" He said and Abbie froze.
She heard the stories of her mother's childhood friend Bucky Barnes.. He was in love with Mary along with Steve. But the three remained friends and he had died in the war.. How could he be alive?
Suddenly she heard Maria's shrieks as Bucky was beating down Howard with his metal arm, Abbie managed to crawl out of the car but wasn't fast enough to save Howard. She saw Bucky dragging Howard's dead body back to the front seat and was making his way towards Maria. But Abbie stood up and was blocking his way
"Bucky.. James" Abbie said as Bucky looked over at her with cold eyes "Do not do this.. My name is Abbie Smith, my mother is Doctor Mary Hunter. She mourned for you, she loved you.. She would love to see you. Please don't do this" She whispered as The Winter Soldier started making his way towards her and took out his gun
"I won't let you hurt Maria" She whispered before Bucky punched her in the face and she got back up "No.." She whispered as Bucky soon shot Abbie in the stomach and she screamed in pain before getting down on one knee, but she tried getting back up
"I have a daughter.. Riley.. Please don't let her be alone" She pleaded, The Winter Soldier stopped for a moment, his eyes almost showing her sadness before he aimed at her once more and shot her in the head. Before walking and standing in front of Maria.. Choking her.
Riley watched with horror in her eyes, Tony next to her as he suddenly grabbed her hand. She noticed Tony was breathing fast.. Their parents died.. She thought her whole life they died from a car crash.. But her mother fought until the end to protect Tony's mother.. The man standing near her.. Connie's love and her fiancé's best friend.. Killed her family.
"There's one more thing" Zemo said and Riley and Tony's eyes snapped up to him, both had tears in their eyes as Zemo shook his head "You were lied to your whole life Miss Smith.. Even your own Fiancé knew the truth. You were going to marry a liar.. He was going to keep this secret from you until he took it to the grave but not me.. I wouldn't lie to you ever.. Rilana Schmidt" He said as he began to play the second film, Steve's heart dropped as he saw what was playing.. The truth was out, everything would change but he was also filled with horror.. Riley was related to his worst enemy.. The Red Skull.
"Again"
"You're doing it all wrong.. Again"
Ulyana heard the small noises and coos of the little bundle she was holding, whining a bit when she heard her husband commanding the girls of the red room to start over their sparring session once again..
Her husband was a harsh man.. Yes because he was the son of the Red Skull. He had a lot to live up to now that his father was dead and he was the only child of him. Hydra needed to live on and because of him.. His planning, his secret meetings with Zola and making sure he was getting the information that Zola was giving him since the older man was in Shield. Secret agreements with members of the Red Room and training more recruits every day.
Ulyana herself was a head member of the Red Room but ever since she got pregnant and had a baby girl.. She gave the duties more to her older and experienced head members. Letting herself nurse her few day old daughter.
"Wolfgang, I think you can let the girls rest for the day.. They had enough with their gun training yesterday" Ulyana spoke and her husband stopped for a second, looking at he before raising a hand, the girls nodded and left the room leaving the two alone
"You're too soft on these girls.. But once they go through their graduation ceremony and become full members.. They will be unstoppable and aid us in taking over the world" Wolfgang said coming towards his wife and Ulyana narrowed her eyes and bounced her baby up and down a bit
"I could have easily taken over the lesson today if you didn't stop me"
"Well, you have our baby to take care of.. She needs to be strongest baby ever.. She will be the best, better than you and me. She's the future of Hydra" He said as his finger stroked her tiny cheek and he smiled.. She has his hair color but her mother's look.
Ulyana looked down at her daughter and frowned. When she was a child, Ulyana was forced to join the Red Room and she didn't have the chance of a normal life. Soon her handlers and Johann Schmidt's widow had put her and Schmidt's only child in an arranged marriage. With a 7 year old age difference with Wolfgang being older. But she didn't hate Wolfgang at all.. He was so nice but stern and brutal to anyone else. She just wished that she had a choice on who she could love and what life she wanted.. Something she wish her daughter could have.
"She will be the best leader ever.. We will teach her well and she will be the one to take down Shield.. We may not do it with Captain America's son and his team of Snakes.. But she can do it, my father had the super genes and now it will be passed down to her." He said and Ulyana looked down at her daughter and kissed her tiny head, causing the baby to smile a bit
"I'm glad you love me, my little heart" Ulyana spoke in Russian before Wolfgang went towards them and he kissed his wife's head
"I just need to check on a couple of things and we can head out for the day.. I want to introduce her to Zola. He will be pleased of this baby.. Unlike how my father would have been"
"Your father would have hated her?" Ulyana questioned and Wolfgang nodded
"Probably would have tried to kill her, he would have hated it if the future leader of Hydra was a female." He said looking down and Ulyana looked up
"What about you?"
"I'm happy that she came into this world healthy" He began and looked down at her "She is the future of us.. Our legacy. For some reason I knew we were going to have a girl and I'm happy we did.. I will always love her and I know even though I will put her through some horrible and brutal training.. She may love me"
"I hope she will get through it" Ulyana said and Wolfgang nodded "She's a Schmidt.. She will get through any thing" He said before kissing his wife and his daughter's head
"I will meet you in the car.. I need to take care of some business" He said before Ulyana nodded and she was finally alone in the room
"My sweetie.. We'll get home and we'll lay down. I promise" She said as suddenly she heard sirens going off. The ones that detect bombs or any large thing around the area
"What on earth?" She whispered before the building started to shake, her daughter began wailing and she held on to her daughter
"Shh.. It's okay, I promise you. We're gonna be okay" Ulyana tried hushing her baby but soon the shaking got worst and a huge boom hit the top of the building, the area around her was crumbling and Ulyana was trying to scramble for safely with her crying daughter but it was too late as she shielded her baby from the ceiling that had fallen.
"Agent Smith.. Is everything okay?"
"No survivors yet.. I just see rubble but so far.. Nothing"
"See if anyone made it.. We need someone in custody, they said Wolfgang Schmidt was here, we need him"
"I'll keep a look out" She whispered and started moving around the rubble.
"See if your husband got anything"
"He's a couple of feet, he hasn't gotten anything either" Abbie spoke and suddenly she saw a huge puddle of blood and she went towards it, looking in horror as she saw men and women were there.. Lifeless
"I found Wolfgang Schmidt and a couple of other members.. They're dead" Abbie whispered as she backed away a bit and needed a breather. She looked around the destroyed building and looked down
Her ears perked up once she heard crying.. A baby's cry. She started running towards the source and started crawling into a destroyed part of a huge building until she was getting closer.
"Help.. Help her" A weak voice called in Russian and Abbie scrambled towards the voice and her eyes widen
A woman was being crushed, in her arms was a baby. The woman literally got crushed protecting her baby.
"I'm here, I'm here" Abbie said and crawled towards the woman and the baby, the woman was trying to hush her baby
"Look.. Someone came to save you" The woman whispered and Abbie shook her head "I'm saving you both"
"Not me.. I know I have no time left" The woman smiled as she looked down
"My name is Ulyana"
"Abbie"
"Please.. Do you know if my husband Wolfgang is alive?"
Abbie was frozen, she was talking to the wife of Wolfgang Schmidt. But she remained calm and shook her head
"No.. I'm sorry"
"My Wolf.."
Ulyana looked sad as she looked at Abbie with sad eyes "Do you have children of your own?"
"No.. I've suffered a miscarriage.. I had a couple now, they say I probably won't ever have children"
"I'm sorry.. No woman should ever experience that amount of pain"
"It's okay.. I've accepted the fact"
"Please Abbie.. Do me a favor" Ulyana pleaded and suddenly she moved her arms, her daughter coming down now as she was being placed in Abbie's hands
"Please give her a life that I never had, a life I wanted to give her.. Make sure she grows up, experiences school and college. Falls in love with a man freely and who loves her just as much.. Make sure she has children that she will adore and love for the rest of her life.. Like the way I loved her and the way you will love her"
"Ulyana I can't.." Abbie said with tears in her eyes and the other woman smiled with tears in her eyes as well
"As one mother to another.. Please love our daughter and make sure she is loved.. She doesn't have to know about her true heritage.. But please make sure you tell her.. That I loved her with every ounce of my being" Ulyana whispered as she began to cry and Abbie started sobbing as she nodded
"I promise.. My husband and I will love her, thank you for giving me this chance" Abbie smiled and Ulyana nodded and smiled softly
"I love you Rilana Schmidt, please be good and not like your father and I.. Be the only good thing that came from this mess.. Hydra and the Red Room. Don't be like us"
Abbie looked down as she saw her adopted daughter was crying and she tried to quiet her and she looked down and saw that Ulyana was dead, she had tears in her eyes as she went to close the deceased woman's eyes and grabbed her hand and squeezed it
"I promise.. I promise I will make our daughter's life good"
"Abbie?!" Her husband's voice was calling and Abbie looked back and she looked back at the deceased woman and she said a small prayer before climbing out of the rubble wry a crying baby
"We have a survivor" Abbie called and her husband ran towards her and saw it was a baby
"Oh my god?! Is the baby okay?" He asked and Abbie looked at him, she knew he would be a great father already
"Yeah.. Riley is fine"
Riley's eyes were red with tears as she covered her mouth with her hands.. She looked over at Steve who had an unreadable expression before she shook her head.. Steve knew? Steve knew and never told her? He knew about her being adopted by the Smiths and her real parents were dead? That Bucky killed her and Tony's parents? Why didn't he tell her?
"You knew..?" Riley whispered as Steve came towards her and tried grabbing her hand, but she backed away.. Not letting Steve touch her. Tony however tried charging at Bucky but Steve grabbed his arm
"Tony.." He said as Connie stepped in front of Bucky. Bucky's eyes widen.. Connie watched as Bucky had murdered her aunt and uncle with her own eyes but she still wanted to protect him.. He watched her looking at the screen with tears in her eyes and he expected her to move away.. She didn't. She knew he was innocent.
Tony had tears in his eyes, grief overcame him as he looked at Steve's hand grabbing his arm and it clicked in his head before looking up "Did you know?" He whispered and Riley looked back at Bucky who had tears in his eyes.. She knew Bucky was hating himself right now.
"You knew.." Riley whispered and Steve grabbed her arm as well and she looked up at him as he spoke, looking at Tony before looking at Riley
"I didn't know it was him." He said as Tony leaned in closer "Don't you bullshit us Rogers, did you know?"
"Steve.." Riley said in such a small voice and it broke Steve's heart "Don't you lie to me.. Don't lie to Tony. You knew that he killed our families? You knew that my parents weren't my actual ones?"
"Yes..." Steve whispered and Riley backed up while Tony flinched away, Steve looked at her with small tears in his eyes "Riley.. Please. I didn't know who your family was.."
Riley looked down for a moment, she felt like her mind was racing and she felt dizzy. Tony looked like he was going to snap as a million things were running through his mind..
Suddenly Riley looked up at Steve and she made her choice.
Author's Note:
What a cliff hanger!
The next chapter is the LAST one! It's the end! We have the final battle.
What do you think Riley will do? Was Steve right to keep her family a secret?
We have one post credit chapter so far and it's actually the first thing I've wrote for this story, and it will set up B.P and IW quite well.
Leave reviews and until the next chapter! Leave your guesses if Riley will attack or spare Bucky.