Take Me Home

I've Missed You

In the morning Vincent and Damien walk with her to the dining room. They breathe a sigh of relief when Derek and Lilia aren't there. She sits down slowly talking with everyone. Sam sits next to her teasingly taking her food. The two grab food from each other and eventually she leans her head against his shoulder. Everyone tried to hide the fact that they stopped breathing. It's an instinct to her she doesn't realize she knows. Sam takes a shaky breath before trailing his fingers from her shoulder blades to the middle of her back. When she wraps her arms around his waist he holds back his sobs. It was a comforting measure she did to him when he suffered from the rare  nightmares  he still got. It became their thing when they needed comfort and the fact that she still remembered tore him to pieces. After some time everyone gets up to head their own way. Loki calls her name softly.

"I figured today you and I can hang out...alone?" He asks softly. She looks at Vincent who shrugs. "We won't be leaving the compound if that's what you're worried about."

She laughs a little. "I'd like that."

✨

Three hours later they're both sitting in the common room laughing as he tells her stories of her childhood.

"So there my brother is thinking he found a snake  and I transformed right there. I go "ah it's me.", stab him and then run."

She clutched her stomach laughing so hard she falls sideways onto the couch. She finally gets control of herself enough to sit up staring into his eyes.

"I've missed you." He whispers softly. She pauses wide eyed, she wants to say something but what can she say? She doesn't remember him. He cups her cheek gently. "Shh don't say anything. I know you don't remember but I had to say it out loud. I had to make it real. For me."

She stays quiet looking into his eyes that have a slight shine to them. She swallows harshly opening her mouth when an alarm blares through the compound. She jumps up as Tony and Steve run into the room. The others running in after him.

"There's word of a HYDRA base. We need to go in. Possible hostages." Tony says. "All hands on deck."

"I want to go." Lilia says. Tony turns to Natasha who shrugs her shoulder.

"Yeah, fine, suit up!" With that everyone but Natasha, Loki and Tony disperse. "Loki I'm sorry but we need you with us." Loki nods before leaving. Vincent comes up behind her placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. A throbbing starts in the back of her head as they all race around to get ready. Vincent stays quiet watching the glazed look in her eyes as she walks into a locker room of sorts. She starts grabbing items, putting them in various places before heading to the hanger where the Quinjet is. She rubs her forehead constantly, eyes squinting as she stands halfways to the jet. Only Vincent noticed the pause everyone does when they see her. They each hesitantly walk up giving her a hug or kiss on the cheek before walking away, holding back sobs.

Bucky is the last one to go up to her, holding her tight before kissing her cheek, next to the edge of her mouth. He stares at her a moment before running off. She stands there watching them disappear before she turns to Vincent. He watches her for a moment and lunges when she starts to waver, passing out.
✨

In the morning she wakes up, stretching lightly before waking Vincent.

"Are you ok?" He asks her softly as they get ready to head out.

"Of course why wouldn't I be?" She asked, her eyebrows pulled down low. He doesn't respond, watching her closely as they enter the kitchen. Natasha is sitting at the island with a plate of food.

"Where is everyone?" She asks, turning to Natasha. Natasha shares a puzzled look with Vincent.

"They went on a mission yesterday."

"No one said goodbye?" She asks softly, looking down.

"Piccolina," Vincent says, his hand touching hers. "They did. You said goodbye to them outside."

"I-I don't remember." She whispers looking at Vincent. He stares at her a moment before nodding, making a note to talk to Bruce. They eat in silence, no one knowing what to say about her sudden memory loss. After some time Vincent leaves asking Natasha if she would watch Piccolina. They stay in the kitchen talking and making lunch when Natasha turns to her.

"Why do you let her talk to you that way?" She asks softly cutting some fruit.

"Who?" She asks hoping to play dumb.

"Lillia."

She sighs before turning to Natasha. "It's- complicated."

When Natasha continues to stare at her she finally relents. You tell her how Lillia used to belong to a rich family who had 6 children, all but her boys. They excelled in everything but they didn't want Lillia. She was a dissapointment to them, would never amount to anything. One day they took a trip and stopped off at the island not realizing people were there. They stopped off let the kids play for a little bit. She tells Natasha how the family lets her get farther from them on the beach before they head back to the boat leaving her behind. She was only 8.

"It took a traumatic toll on her. She strives to be the best she can be, to be loved by everyone."

"And you threaten that." Natasha correctly assumes.

"Only the everyone liking me part." She says with laughter in her voice.

"And you're here where everyone excels in something." She nods realizing Natasha understands. "I want to say it's unfair she treats you this way but everyone deals with trauma differently."

After a beat of silence she looks at Natasha. "Did my trauma change me?"

"Yes and no."

She waits for clarification scared she'll get it but Natasha continues to cut up the fruit before changing the subject.