till the end of the line

33 Settling Into Reunion

So that's how it went.

For the next few months, we trained the new avenger members and lived right inside the new facility.

I was getting to know Angelina as she grew accompanied by everyone who was here.

When Nick arrived with her file, I learned everything from her birthday to her favorite color.

I enjoyed training but I had moved out with Lina shortly after to a nice apartment in the city. I went back to Brooklyn but still went on missions of my own as I followed leads and still got back in time with dinner.

Angelina was put into school so that she would still get an education and I worked and had a successful business of my own.

I liked the little life I built for myself and I still talked to Steve. I had made a copy of the Winter Soldier file as I searched for him myself.

Now present day, it's been about two years and I'd been following a lead for a while and it seemed to be leading me to Lagos.

~

I waited outside and soon there she was, walking through the double doors, "Lina!"

"Mommy!"

I still wasn't used to it, but I'm glad that she saw me that way. She knew that I wasn't her biological mom, and she knew her parents died but she still loved me.

I crouched down as she ran into my arms, "Hi baby. How was school?"

She smiled and waved to her friends as she turned back to me, "Good."

I stood up and grabbed her hand as we walked back to the car, "So your Uncle Tony let me borrow his plane. You ready for an adventure?"

She nodded as I buckled her in before getting in the front seat, handing her a little bag, "Happy Birthday, Angelina."

I started the car as she pulled out the treats before I began to drive towards the private strip.

Once we arrived, we got out and I grabbed the bag from the trunk before I handed my keys over, "Thanks again, Happy."

"Anything for you guys."

He nodded before leaving and I brought Lina with me as we boarded the Stark Plane.

"Wow!"

"You like that?"

"Mhm. Mommy, can I have orange juice?"

I nodded and buckled her into her seat as I sat down across from her before the attendant came back with juice.

It wasn't long before we were in the air and Angelina was asleep. I stood at the table as I had the file and any other lead in front of me.

Pinpointing and connecting all the last seen and possible locations, I was growing frustrated and threw the pen at the ground, "Damn it, where are you Bucky?"

"Language."

I turned around and saw Angelina standing behind me with her teddy, "Did you're Uncle Steve teach you that?"

She quickly shook her head and covered her mouth before giggling, "I can't tell."

I chuckled and shook my head as I cleaned up before we landed.

Once we were on the tarmac, I grabbed Lina and then buckled her into the car waiting for us.

Getting settled into one of Tony's many apartments, I then received a call as Lina passed me my phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kat. It's Natasha."

"Oh hey, Nat. What's up?"