A Heart Break In Time

I Love You 3000.

Sam's phone rang and he answered it. I took a seat next to Bucky on the couch. "How you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Don't lie to me, Buck." He looked at the ground and then back at me. Before he spoke Sam spoke loudly. "She said what?" Bucky and I looked at each other and back at Sam. He mouthed "Sarah." To us and then kept talking to her. "Right. Hold on, hold on. I know, I know. Listen, pack an overnight bag and take the boys."

I stood up. "What happened?"

"Karli called Sarah. She threatened my nephews." He answered then back to his phone. "Okay. Go somewhere safe. Only pay cash. All right? Let me know when you get there. I know. Look, I love you. I'll never let anything happen to you and the boys, you know that. Okay. Bye." He hung up the phone and sighed. "Karli wants to meet. She left a contact number."

"I have Tony's jet. I'll go to Sarah and the kids."

Sam grabbed my hand. "Thank you." His phone dinged and then he sighed. "She said come alone."

"I'm coming with you." Bucky spoke with a tone that no one was going to question.

"Tell Sarah to have the kids ready. I'll fuel up and grab them, we'll stay in the air until this is done. Okay?" I squeezed Sam's hand.

"Thank you, Talia. Seriously." He pulled me for a hug.

I leaned my head against his chest. "Just take care of you and Bucky. And end this. Please."

Flashback

I woke up earlier than usual and couldn't get back to sleep. Some nights the Red Room dreams were more vivid and today was one of those. The sun was just rising and I decided to go for a run. I changed and threw my hair into a pony tail before grabbing my headphones and leaving. I was three laps in when I could slightly hear someone calling my name.

"Talia! Hey!" I turned and saw Steve and his new friend, Sam. We hadn't officially met but Steve told me about him. I waited for them to catch up to me.

"What are you two handsome men doing out here this early?"

Sam and Steve both smiled, but Sam looked directly in my eyes. I didn't think a man could flirt without words until now. I continued to make eye contact as I put my hand out to shake his. "Talia Aimilios. You must be Sam Wilson."

"You talk about me, huh?" He looked quickly to Steve before back to me. "You one of him?" When I raised my eyebrow in question Steve answered.

"Super solider."

I laughed. "Nope. Regular old human here."

"Oh, then I might have a chance at beating you, then."

I smiled. "I wouldn't go that far, love. But we can find out."

We ran, the three of us at the same pace until Sam said he felt ready to race. He pointed at Steve. "Not you."

Steve rolled his eyes and laughed. "Okay, sure. I'll just over here, alone."

"Aw. Poor baby." I kissed his cheek before taking my place next to Sam. We locked eyes before he smiled and counted down. We took off, staying even with each other as we did laps. He would inch forward and then I'd quickly close that gap. And vice versa. We must've ran three more miles before we both slowed down.

"All right, not fair. I was running before you got here."

Sam laughed. "Sore loser." I shot him a look and he laughed harder.

"Rematch. Tomorrow morning."

"You're on, babydoll." He gave me the flirty look again and I couldn't stop the smile forming on my face. Steve noticed, and chose then to wrap his arms around me.

"Careful, Wilson. My girl could kick your ass and mine." He was obviously marking his territory, which was not my favorite move. But at least it was a move. Things with Steve were going remarkably... slow.

Sam caught the hint, he tilted his head in confusion but after looking at Steve he nodded.

*

"You must be Sarah." I smiled after stepping off the jet. "I'm Talia. And you two must be AJ and Cass. Sam has told me so much about you two."

Sarah walked towards me with the kids following. "You're friends with Uncle Sam?" AJ asked.

"I am."

"Are you his girlfriend?"

"No. Just friends."

AJ frowned. "Why not?"

"Uh, I..." I looked to Sarah and she laughed.

"I'm sorry. Kids, let's just go."

I moved and gestured to the jet. "Yes, we are going to have a fun time flying around for a while. I've got cards and games, some video game consoles, lots of snacks. All for you guys." I smiled at the kids and they ran on the jet.

"Thanks. I really appreciate this." Sarah walked next to me.

"Don't even worry about it."

Sarah was quiet until we got on the jet. "So, you and my brother."

"Hm?" I questioned.

"Nothing going on there?" She raised her eyebrow at me.

I laughed. "Nope. My first real relationship just traveled through time to get a new girlfriend so frankly... I think I might be the problem."

"I'm sorry, what?"

I realized that the arrival of Peggy hasn't been announced to the public. They've just been reporting the break up. "Oh, uh... Steve put the stones back. And then brought Peggy Carter back to the present. So... that's why the split."

"Shit." She sat back, looking shocked.

"Yeah." I sat, I briefly remembered my shock when they showed up, how I could literally feel my whole world fall apart. I shook my head trying to forget the feeling. "You want a drink? I want a drink."

"White wine, if you have it."

"I do. But I also have tequila." I smirked.

She returned the smile. "Tequila it is."

We drank and talked for a few hours, the tv playing in the background. "Mom! Isn't that the new Captain America?" Cass shouted. I turned to look.

"FRIDAY, turn that up!"

"...shocking reports are showing that John Walker, aka Captain America, violently attacked a member of the terrorism group called 'Flag Smashers' today. We have video recordings of the incident, but if you're faint of heart I recommend you look away. This is not a pretty picture here." I watched as John grabbed the shield with both hands as he repetitively slammed the shield down on the man below him. One. Two. Three. Four times. Until he was no longer moving. The video didn't have sound but I felt tears stream down my eyes as I watched it happen.

John stepped back and you could see the blood splatter on the shield. He looked around, no remorse in his eyes. "Look, that's Uncle Sam!" AJ pointed and faintly in the background you can see Sam and Bucky, faces mirroring the heartbreak mine likely shows as well.

I walked to the pilot. "We need to make a brief landing." Happy wakes up behind me.

"Talia, what the hell?"

"We're dropping me off and then you're going back in the sky." He started to interrupt me. "No. Happy, I need to do something. And you need to keep them safe." I pointed back to where Sarah and the kids were. "They are the VIPs, nothing and no one is more important than them right now. Do you understand?" Happy nodded and I smiled. "I knew I could trust you." I turned back to the pilot. "About that landing."