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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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☾⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ
A SMILE SPREAD across Ivanna's face as she walked through the small house. She could hear the laughter of Alexei and picture Steve's awkward smile as she carried a bowl of fruit into the living room. And just as she expected, Steve was sitting on a chair with an awkward look on his face while Alexei was just laughing about who knew what. Ivanna set the bowl down and sat on the sofa, watching as Yelena and Melina trailed behind her.
Yelena hadn't spoken much after the fact of Ivanna showing up with the news. And that was a few days after it had happened. But they had all welcomed Steve with open arms, especially Alexei. Steve and Ivanna told them everything, which hurt Ivanna even more than when she found out they had lost Natasha. It didn't seem to have settled well with Yelena, and Ivanna hadn't been able to get through to her.
"What's going on in here?" Melina questioned while looking between the two men. She and Ivanna exchanged looks with wide brows and confusion. Ivanna shrugged and nudged Steve from where she sat, his gaze instantly fell to Ivanna.
He hummed and cracked a small smile, Ivanna mouthing 'sorry' about Alexei's antics. Steve looked between the blond and her father then shrugged as if to say that he's seen worse. She smiled at him warmly, then turned back to Yelena who had just sat next to her.
Ivanna made an effort to practically drag Steve to Ohio as much as possible in the months following the deaths of their friends. After losing Natasha and seeing the effects of their family being split for over 10 years, Ivanna had had enough. Steve wasn't one to complain, as Bucky and Sam had been off doing their things.
Bucky had been instructed by the government to find any help he could and had taken to therapy and made amends from his time as The Winter Soldier. Steve would check in on him often, happy to ensure his friend's safety and that he was finally okay. Sam had been continuing on missions as the Falcon, and as far as Steve and Ivanna knew he still hadn't touched the shield since it was given to him.
Steve and Ivanna had been working on their things. Sure he'd still go on certain missions, he was still known as Captain America, but he wanted Sam to try and take over. Since Steve had passed on the mantle of Captain America, he had been able to be successful in the world of relaxation. Something Ivanna teased him for not experiencing beforehand. This trip to Ohio would be short, as the pair had promised Sam that they'd be back in a few days. Sam had decided what he wanted to do with the shield, and Steve agreed to stay beside him and give Sam support no matter the choice.
They both understood Sam's reasoning and quickly accepted it. Ivanna couldn't say that she related to Sam's reasoning, as he were for completely different reasons than her own would be for stepping aside from something. But the world and people not being ready for Sam to take on such an important role in America, Ivanna understood. And Sam was like a brother to her anyway, so she'd support him in his final decision.
