Winter's Sunshine

34. Old Flames

"Help me get out of here, Erik. Please, please do this for me"

Erik sighed shaking his head. "And what will you do after you get out?"

"Go back to shield"

"You can't", he stated crossing his hands across his chest.

"Trust me I can. So just help me-"

"Ana, you can't go back to shield."

Ana looked at Erik in utter confusion. "Why not?", she asked him. "Is there something that you are not telling me?

"Well.. OK, listen if they came to know that I told you, they would kill me."

"Tell me what?"

"The truth is, Ana... First, promise me you won't overreact. Because even if you do, I don't think there is much that I can do to help you."

"What is it, Erik?"

"Shield knows everything about you."

"That's not possible. I didn't technically blow my cover.", she argued.

"Yes, but your Father did."

"What do you mean?"

"After we bought you here, I was asked to expose your infiltration. Your details, all the information about you as Jennifer Cooper, everything which we had set up was asked to be destroyed."

"Wha- What?", Ana asked in shock.She couldn't believe that her Father would go to such an extreme.

"I guess he wanted to make sure-"

"That I never go back to shield."

Ana broke down in tears on hearing her Father's deed. Not only had he dragged her away from Bucky, but he also made sure that she could never go back to him.

Bucky must know by now, she realized. He must be hurt. He doesn't deserve to be hurt, dammit! And I am the one who did this to him. Out of all people, I am the reason for his pain. What he must be thinking about me? God, everything we have will be ruined.

"Ana..", Erik whispered kneeling by her side. "There is no escaping from here. I am sorry but this is the truth."

Ana tried wiping her tears which kept flowing down her face. She looked at him with hopeful eyes, pleading him to help her somehow. "There has to be some way, Erik. Please, help me get out of here."

"Ana, I-", Erik paused feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket. "Wait a sec- It's your Father's message."

Erik got up reading the text. He looked at Ana who was already looking at him. "What is it?", she asked

"Nothing. I need to get ready for London", he replied scratching his ear.

Ana noticed it and got up immediately."What is it, Erik? What are you hiding from me?", she asked amidst her sobs.

"I- Um, What? No, nothing."

"Erik I know you are lying. You scratch your ear when you lie and even you know about it. Couldn't just get rid of this old habit, now can you?"

"Fine. You are right. But I am not telling you anything." Ana nodded at him unwillingly and Erik felt his heart sank a bit. "Look, Ana. I know what are you going through. But the bottom line is there is no point in dwelling back in your past. Think about your future, our future, sweetheart. Bucky, Bucky was just a mission. Shield was your mission. Let go off it. It would be good for both, you and me. Please, love. Be ready by 8 in the morning, because honestly, I don't want to force you in doing that."

"OK.", Ana said nodding at him.  "I will be ready. Don't you worry."

"Good.", Erik said giving a peck on her cheek. "That's like my girl." He looked at her lovingly. "God, I miss us, Ana. You and me." he said caressing her cheek. He watched Ana biting her lip contemplating about something. "You OK?", he asked noticing her nervousness.

"You said to leave the past behind right?"

Erik nodded at her not sure where she is going with this.

"So here I am leaving my past behind", she said leaning in for a kiss.

Erik startled by Ana's action pulled away to study her.

"Did I do something wrong?", she asked feeling ashamed.

"No. I just- wasn't expecting this.", he confessed chuckling.

"I am sorry. I- I shouldn't have done that."

"Hey, don't be."Erik said cupping her face. He leaned in for a kiss and was pleased to feel Ana smiling against his lips. A familiar sense of feeling enveloped Erik while they shared the kiss. He kissed her passionately pulling her closer to him. He felt her arms around his waist. Everything is slowly falling back in place... ,he thought finally feeling happy.

A sudden beep from his back pocket forced him to pull away."Your Father..", he complained gaining a hearty laugh from Ana. "Better get going. I can't keep him waiting."

"True... Can't upset him"

Erik nodded at her admiring her beauty.

"Bye now", Ana waved timidly pulling herself away from him.

"Goodnight, Sleep well, Ana.", Erik blabbered trying to hide his blush.  At last, there is some hope for us, he smiled thinking. He then closed the door behind him and made his way down the huge stairway. Ana kissed me! , he kept repeating to himself. "She kissed me first, for heaven's sake", he exclaimed.

"Boss, Mr. Volkov is expecting you in his study", interrupted his soldier when he saw Erik walking towards him.

"I know. I got his message", he said walking towards it.

____________________

"I want him dead. It doesn't matter how you do it."

Erik waited for Leo to finish his briefing. He hated this part. The briefing. Fuck, I know exactly what to do! Finish it already, Old man , he snorted rolling his eyes. "And lastly Erik, tell me, is Ana OK? Did she talk to you?"

"Yes, she is fine now and is willing to leave for London  with me."

"This is great news! Just take her away, it will help her to clear her head. And make sure that she doesn't contact anyone, especially anyone from shield."

"Sure."

"Now get going, Erik. You cannot risk failing this mission." Erik nodded at Leo and left the study along with his soldiers. 

"It's time for the kill boys", he said smirking.  "Let's finish the Winter Soldier."