Rooftops and Invitations ❤️

Chapter 20

They board the jet and follow the coordinates to someplace just outside Moscow. Steve gets off the jet followed by Bucky, Natasha and Tony. They enter what seems to be an empty Hydra facility. There is a face recognition at the door that only allows Steve and Tony to enter. Tony shrugs, looking back at Natasha and Bucky, "you two wait on the jet. We will call you if we need you."

Bucky shakes his head, "I don't like this."

Natasha grabs his hand, "me either. But let's go." She drags him back onto the jet. 

There is a giant screen that comes on, displaying the face of Baron Zemo, Sokovian Intelligence Officer. 

'Stark. Rogers. The forming of the Avengers has ultimately done more harm than good. You have gathered here because you are the leaders of the Avengers and you are whom Ms. Stark loves the most. She has to choose one of you to make the ultimate sacrifice for the team. Who will she choose?'

Before they have time to think, a door under the screen opens and they follow down a short hallway to find Charlotte tied to a chair.

She sees them making their way to her as she begins to thrash, shaking her head. Steve kneels in front of her, removing the cloth around her mouth, "you guys have to get out of here, go!"

Steve shakes his head, "No. Not without you." Before he can remove her restraints another screen comes down with Zemo's face.

'You have found her. Her chair is on pressurized bombs. You remove her, the whole building implodes. Time to make your choice Charlotte.'

She shakes her head, seeing them both watching her, "you both have to go, please."

Tony shakes his head, "no way. What does he mean you have a choice to make?"

"One of you has to stay with me. But I don't want that. Both of you go. Please. Leave me!" 

They hear Zemo's voice:

'Tick tock. If you don't make a decision, one will be made for you.'

Charlotte turns to Tony, "dad please. You have to go. Pepper needs you."

Tony tries to stop the tears that were escaping down his cheeks, "what? No! I'm not leaving." 

She looks at Steve who seemed to understand the situation better than Tony, "Steve is here dad. Please go. Before it's too late."

He looked at Steve, "Rogers?"

Steve stood up, shaking his head, "go. I'm not leaving her." He reached over, pulling a confused Tony into a hug, "tell Bucky I'm sorry."

Tony nodded, kneeling down in front of Charlotte, kissing her on the head as his tears fell into her hair. "I love you Charlotte."

She nodded, not being able to control her own crying, "I love you too dad. Tell Pepper and my sister I love them."

Tony could only nod as he left the room.

Steve knelt back down in front of her, tears streaking his cheeks as he gently removed her restraints, "I just got you back Charlie."

She nodded, placing her hands on his face, "I know. I love you Steve. There's still time for you to leave. Please."

He shook his head, "no. I can't. You know I can't."

"Bucky will never forgive you."

"I don't care. I love you Charlotte." He leaned in, wrapping his arms around her, pressing his lips to hers as he pulled her off the chair.

**********************************

Tony sat in the jet with Natasha and Bucky hovering over the base as they watched it implode, making a sinkhole in the snow. Bucky banged on the window, "no!"

Natasha grabbed his hand, pulling him to her as they held each other on the floor knowing there was nothing else to do but cry.