A Heart Break In Time

What You Seek Lies In Front Of You... As Does What You Fear.

I woke up early the next morning and dressed for a run. I wanted to get out and back in time for training. I had just put my headphones on as I headed out the door and saw Happy and Peter walking in.

"Oh my god! Peter!" I squealed and ran towards him, throwing my arms around him. "Hey kid! How're you?"

"Oh, hi Miss Talia! This is nice." He hugged me back.

I pulled away from him and smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited to train with you guys today!" Peter grinned back at me. I looked over at Happy.

"Good to see you, Haps." I wrapped my arms around him for a hug.

His arms wrapped tightly back around me but he spoke dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. You too. Let's go. I'm just dropping the kid off, I'm not babysitting too." Ever since Tony, Happy has still tried to act tough but I can feel it in his hugs that he needs this too.

I looked back at Peter. "You wanna come for a run with me?" Peter smiled and nodded. "Cool, you can go then, Happy. But come back tonight! We're gonna throw a party since Peter is here!"

"Really? That's awesome!" Peter's face broke out in a grin.

I grabbed his hand. "C'mon. I gotta get my run in before training." He ran beside me as I jogged, but I could see him getting tired. "C'mon, Spider-boy. You running out of energy already?"

"It's Spider-Man!" He groaned as he sped up to keep up with me. I let out a huge laugh and I could feel it in my whole body. It had been so long since I felt like this, carefree and happy.

"All right, Peter. Let's go back now." He followed me as I made my way back, slowing down to a fast walk. We walked back inside as he caught me up on his school adventures since being back.

"...honestly it really sucks cause I'm technically five years older, I should've graduated already!" He groaned as we walked into the kitchen and I saw everyone sitting around the bar counter eating.

Steve stood at the stove. "I made breakfast. Oh, hey Queens!" He smiled as he greeted Peter.

"Who's the kid?" Eva asked before stuffing her face full of a waffle.

"This is Peter!" I wrapped my arm around him. "Also known as.... Spider-Man!" I threw my arms out open dramatically.

Eva choked on her food and Angel dropped her fork. "I'm sorry." Angel said in disbelief. "He's Spider-Man?"

"You've heard of me?" Peter grinned excitedly.

I laughed. "Yeah, that's my little Peter." I kissed his forehead and walked to sit next to Bucky.

"Please, don't ever say that again." Sam groaned.

"Pete, come sit." I pointed at the open chair on the other side of me. "That's Angel, that's Eva, and that's Kai." I pointed at each person as I introduced them. "They're the newbies. Which means you aren't anymore."

"Yes!" Peter laughed. "Finally!"

Steve walked up and slid two plates in front of Bucky and I. He smiled at us, I looked down confused.

"Uh, Steve? What's this?"

"French toast with strawberries." When he saw me just blankly staring at him he continued. "Promise I didn't poison it, Talia." He rolled his eyes.

"Well, you wouldn't need to. I would die if I ate this, I'm allergic to strawberries, Steve." I pushed the plate away from me. I felt hurt. How could he forget that?

Without speaking, Bucky just switched our plates, Steve had given him plain waffles, and placed his hand on my thigh. He gave it a light squeeze and I looked over at him. I returned the half smile he was giving me and he pulled away to start eating. Once the first bite was in his mouth I giggled. "Now you can't kiss me today."

Steve was still looking at us, almost like he was trying to process what had just happened, his almost poisoning me. I didn't want to show how I was really feeling so I just focused on the food in front of me. Steve seemed to take that as a hint, and went back to make Peter something.

"Thanks, man!" Peter smiled as Steve handed him a plate.

"Oh, so everyone. Since we got little Peter over here," I paused to hear Sam's groan. "We're gonna throw a little party tonight. Dress to impress!" I turned to Peter. "I'll get something for you to change into after training if you need it."

"Thanks." He smiled.

I nodded. "And with that, I'm out. See you at training!" I squeezed Bucky's hand before walking to my room to wait for training.

I sat on my bed as a sitcom played, stretching slightly to relax from the short run I took. I heard a knock at my door and I sat up. "Come in."

Steve walked in. "Talia, I just... I don't know how I forgot. I'm sorry."

"Steve, it's not your job to remember anymore." I curled my legs up in front of me and wrapped my arms around them. "It's fine."

"It's not, I-" Steve started to explain but stopped. He kept opening his mouth to say more but then would stop again.

I uncurled. "Steve? You okay?" Steve didn't respond. He just walked out of my room. "That's fucking weird..." I mumbled to myself before continuing to stretch. I tried to ignore the nagging feeling in my heart. Steve couldn't even remember the one thing I was allergic to. I shouldn't be surprised, if I didn't really love him, why should I be upset to find out he didn't really love me? It was fair. It made complete sense.

And yet, here I was. Starting to cry about a man who I didn't love, not loving me. The plate of strawberries hurt more than seeing him physically with another woman. As a tear started to spill out from my eyes I sighed, trying to pull myself together. "This is ridiculous. This is unnecessary." I wiped my eye and copied Bucky's breathing from therapy. Deep breath in. Slowly let it out. Deep breath in. He never loved me. Slowly let it out. Does anyone? Deep breath in. Why am I here? Slowly let it out. Deep breath in. Bucky. Slowly let it out. Deep breath in. Thank goodness for Bucky. Slowly let it out. I focused on Bucky until I felt myself fully calmed down. Wow, I'd have to thank Dr. Sloan for that technique later. I felt a little impressed with myself. Once I felt composed enough, I walked down to the training room. Even if what Steve and I had wasn't real, the family I have now is.