The Forgotten ❤️

Chapter 14

Victoria avoided everyone over the next month as she stayed in her room, not wanting to interact especially with Steve. She still couldn't believe he didn't tell her about losing Bucky. She sighed when she heard a soft knock on the door, it opening before she could answer. She was happy to see Grant standing in her room, "Grant."

He sat on the bed facing her, "I wanted to apologize, for being a jerk. And I need you to come out of this room. You know he wouldn't want you like this."

She shook her head, pulling her knees to her chest, "I can't."

Grant brushed hair out of her face, "mom. Please." He sighed, "why won't you talk to Steve? It isn't his fault. He loves you."

She looked back at Grant, "what if I want Bucky?"

"Do you?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. Not really an option anymore anyways is it?"

Grant shook his head, sighing again, "you don't know that. We could still find him."

"What did you mean when you saw me with Steve?"

Grant stood up from the bed, "we're connected. I saw you ending up with Steve. Now. Now I don't see anything. All I can sense is your uncertainty now. But I do know that you need to make a decision before one is made for you."

"What do you mean before one is made for me?"

He groaned, throwing his hands in the air, "I don't know! That's just how I feel. It isn't always black and white." He sat back down on the bed, "Tony is having a party. Morale is low. I think he thinks it may cheer people up."

Victoria laughed, laying back on the bed, "no way. I'm not going to a party right now. Not until we find Bucky." She rolled away from him, facing the wall and waited for him to leave.

Grant hesitated but left her alone in her room, finding Steve just outside. "Any luck?"

Grant shook his head, "no. She said she won't go. Not with Bucky being gone." Steve went to knock on her door but Grant stopped him, "I wouldn't. I have an idea though."

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Victoria groaned again as she heard another knock on her door later that night. She sat up to find Loki enter her bedroom, dressed in a suit. "I'm here to escort you to the party, pet."

She laughed, shaking her head, "no. I'm not going."

Loki didn't say anything, ripping the blanket off the bed, "yes. You are."

"Fuck off, Loki." She went to grab for the blanket but he made it disappear, further angering her.

He grabbed her hand, making her stand up to face him, "this is no way to behave, pet. Now. I know you miss Barnes, but this isn't what he would want and you know it." He pulled her into a hug, letting her cry for a few minutes before pulling her back. "Shower. Quickly."

Victoria groaned but did as he said. She came back out wearing only a towel, blushing as she watched Loki survey her up and down. "I have to dry my hair, and I have nothing to wear."

Loki laughed, "not a problem, pet." He looked at her, "how about, purple?"  Before she could say anything he waved his hand over her, drying her hair, putting it up out of her face. She looked down to see a short satin royal purple dress. It was an off one shoulder long sleeve dress.

She looked up at Loki, "thank you Loki."

He put his arm out for her to take, "you look beautiful, pet. Let's go." She hesitated as Loki looked down at her, "it will be fine. Come on." She nodded, his big green eyes calming her. She sighed as he stood outside the door of the party. He pulled his flash from his pocket, handing it to her, "a little liquid courage." She chuckled, accepting the flask before taking a long swig and handing it back.

She nodded up at him, "okay. Let's go." She felt the warm liquid flowing through her as she stepped into the party with Loki. She smiled softly at Grant winked at her. She looked up at Loki as he led her to the dance floor, "let me guess, Grant and Steve had something to do with this?"

Loki smirked at her, "maybe. Him and Steve figured you probably needed a little tough love. Someone that wouldn't take no quite as easily." 

She chuckled, "Steve too?"

Loki only nodded as he pulled away, nodding behind her. She sighed, knowing what was waiting behind her as she turned to see Steve. "Dance with me?"

She only nodded as he placed his hands gently at her waist. She looked up at him as she put her hands on his shoulders. She closed her eyes as he sent her images of them together. She rested her head on his chest as she moved her hands to his neck. She sent the love she felt for him as he pulled her closer to him, his hands on her back. She pulled back to look at him, "Steve."

He shook his head, "I'm sorry Victoria. For losing Bucky." She watched tears well up in his eyes. 

She put her head back on his chest as she calmed him back down, "I know it wasn't your fault Steve."

He sighed, "doesn't mean you don't miss him. Is there any chance you'd chose me?"

She looked back up at him as she felt the usual jealousy as well sadness this time from him. "I love you Steve. I can't make a decision while he's gone. What if I'm only choosing you because he's not here?"

He nodded, "okay. I love you Victoria."

She cupped his cheek in her hand, "can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

Steve smiled down at her, "I'd like nothing more. I miss you so much."

She pulled away from him, finding Loki with Thor, "thank you Loki." She pulled him into a hug before he could say anything.

"Of course, pet. There more many kinds of love besides just romantic. We all love you."

She nodded as she pulled away to look at him, "I know." She found Grant next, dancing with Wanda who nodded politely and left Grant with her. "Grant, I'm sorry. I know you're an adult and capable. And I'm sorry for pushing you away." 

Grant smiled as he grabbed her hand to dance, "it's fine."

"Grant? Can you show me? The visions you saw of Steve and me?"

He hesitated, shaking his head, "I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Why not? Have you seen me with Bucky? In the future?"

"No. Only Steve."

"Please Grant. Show me." He sighed, nodding. He rested his head on hers. She closed her eyes as she watched visions of her and Steve in the future. Laughing. In love. A wedding. She even sees two small kids with red hair, and Steve on the floor playing with them. She pulls away, opening her eyes to look at Grant. "I can't have any more kids Grant. They made sure of that after I had you."

Grant smiled, "those aren't yours." Her eyes were wet with tears as she realized what he was saying, "they're mine." She looked from Wanda back to Grant who just nodded.

She grabbed his face in both hands, kissing him on the forehead, "thank you Grant."

She started to pull away but he grabbed her hand, "just because you pick Bucky doesn't mean he won't end up be happy too. I know that's something you're worried about." 

She bit her lip, looking at him. "You're right. I am."

"He'll be fine. I know you love him, and it's hard to let go because he was there during the hardest part of your life. But, you can let him go. It will be okay."

She nodded, resting her head on his once more, "thank you so much Grant." 

She left him to find Steve. She found him sitting on the couch. She smiled at him as she sat next to him. He put his arm up as her head found his chest. She relayed the images she got from Grant to Steve as she felt the love radiating off him. She looked up to see tears in his eyes, "Steve. I can't have anymore kids. I can't possibly ever be enough for you. You deserve to be with someone that can give you everything you want."

She starts to stand up from the couch but he pulls her back to him, "wait. Now don't you think it's up for me to decide what it is I want?"

"Steve." She shook her head, trying to control her tears.

"No. Victoria. You don't get to make my choices for me. You don't get to take the easier way out because you're scared. I love you. And I want only you."

She stood up, looking at him, "I don't want you to end up resenting me down the line because I'm broken."

Steve shook his head as he stood up with her, "what? You're not broken. I don't need all that. I only need you." He grabbed her, pulling her body to his. "What would be the difference if you chose Buck? You wouldn't be able to have any more with him either."

She pulled back to look at him, "I just want to make sure that you're sure you want to be with me."

"I'm more than sure love." He crashed his lips into hers, having missed the contact as she ran her fingers through his hair. He pulled away, "come on. Come sleep with me in my bed."