The Monarch and a Criminal
"You heard me," Allie said with a slight frown.
"Zemo? You want to recruit Zemo?" Bucky's brows were raised high. "Didn't you get pissed and fight with me when I got him out of prison?"
"First of all, that fight happened for multiple reasons," Allie rolled her eyes. "And second, I was mad about you getting yourself arrested and not talking to me," she paused. "And because of Zemo, but I have a thought process behind this."
"Allie, my standing with Wakanda wasn't exactly solid after I, you know, kind of helped him escape prison," he sighed.
"We wouldn't be helping anybody escape prison," her voice was harsh, almost like a form of chiding him for what had happened shortly before Steven had been born. "And I'm serious, I have an entire thought process behind this."
"Then tell me," he nodded, breathing out heavily through his nose.
"He hates super soldiers, right?" she bit her lip.
"Well, he's not exactly a fan of them," he agreed. "Killed the other Winter Soldiers, even."
"Well, wouldn't having someone who has a distaste for super soldiers be wise?" she suggested.
"But Zemo? Why him?"
"Why did you want to talk to him in the first place five years ago?" Allie smirked.
"This isn't the same situation," Bucky argued. "You aren't a super soldier."
"But I was supposed to be a new breed of super soldier," she shrugged. "I never asked to be what I am, but here we are. James, it's a new breed. I'm enhanced. Annika's enhanced. Whoever is following her, they're enhanced, too. I might not choose to go the path they do, but it's obvious that they're forming some form of army."
"Even if I support you in this, and even if Sam were to support you in this, who knows what will happen when Wakanda finds out," he sighed.
"That's why after I have your permission, I'm going after theirs next. I won't do it without checking all my boxes," she assured him.
"You're going to walk up to the King of Wakanda and tell him you want to recruit Zemo?" Bucky let out a small huff an amused laugh. Allie simply frowned at him.
"Well, unlike you, sir, I know how to navigate around a conversation or two," she narrowed her eyes at him. "I managed to get Peter to calm down at the airport in Leipzig."
"After you found out he was fourteen," Bucky retorted.
"I also managed to convince the Avengers that I wasn't a threat," she continued.
"After Steve advocated for you and Wanda read your mind," he shot back.
Allie went silent at the mention of her brother. Lips pursed, her eyes fell to the ground and she took a deep breath. Bucky frowned as he realized what she was reacting to. Lifting his hand to sit on her shoulder, he rubbed his thumb against her sweater.
"I can't say that I'd be thrilled to be around him again," he said softly.
"I know. Neither would I," she admitted. "But I can't help but feel that we'd have advantage with someone like him on the team. Keep him check, yes, but acknowledge that he'd have a strong motivation to help us take them down."
"He does have skills," Bucky nodded.
"I wanted to talk to T'Challa about this entire thing as well," Allie swallowed hard. "I really won't go further with trying to recruit Zemo if he tells me no."
"Love, is this a gut feeling you have?" he asked softly and she nodded. "Then go with it."
"Really?" her eyes widened slightly.
"Really," he smiled. "I trust you."
"Thank you," she returned his smile as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
The two continued to walk home, hearing the cheerful screaming of the kids playing outside from the end of the block. Smiling to herself, Allie and Bucky made their way into the backyard, watching as Peter happily ran around with Sarah as Steven and T.J. played nearby. Looking up and making eye contact with the two, he gently guided Sarah to join her brothers.
"Did you enjoy your day out?" he asked with a soft smile.
"We did," Allie smiled.
"Bucky, can I talk to Allie alone?" Peter silently folded his arms across his chest and from one look at him, Allie's smile dropped.
"I'll go take the kids inside and get them cleaned up," Bucky dismissed himself.
Peter briefly looked back in silence, not turning back to face Allie until the backdoor was closed with the others safely inside of the house. As his eyes settled on her, she could tell that it truly wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
"Sam told me what you two said to Steve," he frowned. "He told me why Steve dropped from the team."
"God, not this," Allie frowned.
"No, yes this," he hissed. "What were you thinking?"
"Well, I happen to remember my kids being attacked," Allie bit out. "I happened to be quite angry about that."
"And when Steve was concerned about someone that wasn't you or Bucky or the kids you took it out on him."
"Peter-"
"No Allie," Peter's voice was firm. "Don't you dare make excuses. How would you feel if Steven or Sarah spoke to each other that way?"
"Don't bring them into this."
"Why not? Maybe that's the only way you'll understand," Peter's brow was furrowed. "You're Steve's little sister. Think about how it would feel to have him try and tell you how to feel when it came to Bucky."
Before Allie could even think of protesting, Peter had raised his hands to stop her. Letting out a breath, Allie crossed her hands over her chest and simply listed to what Peter had to say.
"You're better than that," he frowned. "Okay? I get that what happened in Washington was obviously terrifying. We've talked about it before. They may call me Uncle Peter, but they may as well be my little brothers and little sister. I wouldn't be okay with anything happening to them, and you can be goddamn sure that your brother wouldn't be okay with anything happening to them either."
"Peter, I know you're concerned, and you're young-"
"Don't even start with that bullshit, Allie," Peter snapped and Allie's eyes widened. "Can you hear yourself? I get how horrible this whole thing is for you, I really do, but you're not the only one affected by it. I might be young, but don't forget that you asked me to help you with all of this. Don't forget that."
"Peter," Allie's voice was soft as her jaw set. She knew that there was truth to what he was saying and it made it sting even further that she couldn't contact her brother.
"You really are a mom to me," Peter's voice softened. "But even moms make mistakes."
"Well," she swallowed and took in a deep breath. "I've been guilty of many of those, now haven't I? All of you have been attacked because of me."
"I'm not trying to make you feel bad for what happened years ago," Peter frowned. "What happened at that lab, it isn't your fault. But, I'm not going to sit around and watch you take out your frustration and stress on the rest of us. Bucky might let you do that, but I won't."
She simply blinked at him. She had already been made painfully aware of how her words that she'd used against her brother were horrible. Sam had made it painfully obvious that night and Peter wasn't afraid to confront her about it. She hadn't thought, however, of herself as taking it on the others when she expressed what she had been feeling. The sick pang as her stomach dropped was enough for her to know that she knew Peter was right.
"I didn't mean to take it out on anyone," she shook her head.
"Then don't do it again. Sam and I both know that you're better than that, and you certainly know that, too."
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Allie frowned.
"Privately? Yes," Peter nodded. "I do love you and so do Sam and the others, but you have to trust that we understand that it's hard. We understand that it was terrifying for you and Bucky out there in Washington. But, we have priorities of our own. We want to help you, but we still have to keep our people safe as well."
"I'm sorry," Allie found the words slipping from her lips without thinking.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," he sighed. "But when you talk to him, I know he'll appreciate hearing that."
Without another word, Peter spun on his heel and walked into the house. Left behind in the yard, Allie let his words settle in. Part of her hated that he was right. Part of her was mad that Steve wouldn't speak to her or answer her calls so that she could apologize. But there was a part of her that was proud of Peter. She had someone who was unafraid to keep her in check.
And if she was going to bring someone like Zemo into the mix of the team, she was going to need someone who kept her grounded.
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"A girl?" Steve smiled widely as Allie and Bucky sat across from him in his living room.
Allie couldn't help but have an enormous grin on her face as she looked at her brother. In her arms, Steven had fallen asleep and she rubbed his back gently. Steve continued to look at the ultrasound in his hands with a large smile.
"You guys will have one of each," he grinned.
"Just like you and me," Allie smiled.
"Well, hopefully without a scarily early birth," Steve sighed.
"I know," she nodded. "Steve, we know her name."
"Are you going to make all of us wait until she's born like you did with Steven?" Steve rolled his eyes and handed the ultrasound image back to Bucky.
"No," Allie laughed softly.
"We did think that you should be the first to know her name, though," Bucky grinned.
"Really?" Steve smiled in soft confusion.
"Her name is Sarah," Allie smiled. "For Mom."
Steve smiled at her before looking down at his hands. He took in a breath before glancing back up and looking at his nephew, still fast asleep in his mother's arms.
"That's not all," Allie continued. "We want her middle name to be for Nat."
"Sarah Natasha Barnes?" Steve wrinkled his nose. "It'd be much prettier if you used her real name. Natalia."
"Natalia," Allie felt the weight of the name on the tip of her tongue before looking to Bucky. "Sarah Natalia. I like it."
"I do, too," Bucky smiled. "Sarah Natalia Barnes."
A warm moment painted itself across the room. Each of the adults was seemingly wrapped in the warmth of the conversation. Allie looked up to Steve who gave a soft smile.
"You know, you're going to be cramped in that apartment with two kids in that apartment," Steve teased.
"They're still small," Bucky shrugged.
"They'll grow," Steve retorted.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," Allie dismissed with a smile. "For now, I'm going to let the reality of having two children under two actually hit me."
"Mom was able to do it," Steve shrugged. "You'll be able to do it, too. Especially since you've still got Buck."
"These two are lucky they'll have their dad," Allie agreed. "Things would have been so different if we'd had Dad."
"Maybe Steve would have known how to actually throw a punch," Bucky teased.
"Woah," Steve gasped in mock offense. "Says the guy that got hit in the face with a shoe that a twelve-year-old girl threw at him."
"I wonder if he'd have liked me," Bucky squinted in thought as he shifted in his seat, ignoring Steve's jab.
"I like to think he would," Allie shrugged. "We never got to know him, but from Mom's stories, I like to think he'd have liked you."
"Imagine if our parents had ever seen where our lives took us," Steve let out a sigh.
"Which part?" Allie laughed.
"All of it," was the only response she received from her older brother, accompanied by a shrug. "I mean, Mom would love that you two are married."
"Oh not this again," Allie rolled her eyes.
"Why are you rolling your eyes? It's true," Steve laughed.
"Yeah, why are you rolling your eyes? Am I that bad to be married to?" Bucky asked in mock offense.
"Do you remember last week when I asked you to pull dinner from the oven?" Allie raised her brow. "You know, while I was sitting in the nursery to feed our child."
"I pulled the dinner from the oven," Bucky scrunched his nose in confusion.
"After you let it char," she glared. "I fell asleep in that chair and you let our dinner char."
"It was just a little burnt," Bucky defended.
"It set off the fire alarm," Allie frowned.
"It was a little smoke," he argued.
"We had to open the windows and the front door!"
"It really wasn't that bad," he insisted.
"Buck, every time in our lives that you've said something wasn't that bad, it is that bad," Steve rolled his eyes.
"Okay, you're both rude," he rolled his eyes. "Hand me my son, I need to convince him not to listen to you two."
Bucky took Steven from Allie's arms, giving her a break from holding the sleeping baby. Separating himself from the siblings, Bucky softly spoke to his baby, Allie watching him. Her eyes were full of adoration before Steve cleared his throat and stood up.
"I've got dessert in the kitchen, did you want some?" he asked.
"Is it chocolate?" she grinned.
"Yes," he laughed.
"Good," she grinned. "I've been dying for something sweet lately."
The two walked into the kitchen, Allie's hand on her bump as she wait for Steve to plate pieces of chocolate cake. As she took hers, Steve took a deep breath and grinned. He glanced over at his little sister as she took a large bite of cake.
"I took Sharon on a date last night," he uttered quickly, Allie's eyes widening as she turned to him.
"Shut up!" she swallowed her food. "Where did you take her? Did you spend the entire night together? Goddammit, did you man up and kiss her?"
"Woah, woah," it was Steve's turn to have widened eyes. "I took her to dinner and we came back to my apartment. I kissed her goodnight."
Allie almost had a strangled squeal that sounded through her mouthful of cake. Concerned, Bucky walked into the room with his own pair of widened eyes as he continued to gently bounce the baby who began to wake up.
"Our son was asleep!" he hissed at Allie.
"Steve kissed Sharon!" she grinned.
"You kissed her?" Bucky turned to Steve who nodded. "See, Allison, I can create good matches."
"They met and were interested in each other before you," she frowned. "You still have bad taste."
"Alright, ignoring my wife," Bucky rolled his eyes. "That's great Steve."
"Thank you for helping bring her back," Steve grinned.
"You're welcome," Bucky grinned.
"Are you going to take her on more dates?" Allie smirked.
"Well, we're going to be getting dinner again in a couple of nights," Steve shrugged.
Looking to one another, Bucky and Allie grinned. While holding a waking baby, Bucky found himself standing beside his wife and listening to her seemingly endless list of questions for her brother. It had become apparent that Steve was ready to ignore his sister's prodding as he finally simply blinked and walked away from her.
"Well, that was smooth," Bucky teased her.
"In my defense, I never got to be like this before," Allie frowned. "It's exciting! Think about it."
"I know it's exciting," he laughed. "But I'm not going to bombard your brother with questions about it."
"I'm just excited," her frown persisted. "Besides, didn't you ever talk about any of this with him? You know, back in the day?"
"Do you mean did I tell him about dates that I went on?" his laughter still rippled in the kitchen, Steven's eyes looking up at him in confusion, Allie smiling softly as she noticed their son. "I didn't think you liked hearing about those other girls."
"Well," Allie shrugged. "You chose me in the end. But, I'm excited for him. Sharon's sweet."
"She can be something else sometimes," Bucky remembered when he, Sam, and Zemo had been found by Sharon when they were in Madripoor. "But, I think she's good for Steve."
"Okay, well, she's been sweet to me," Allie shrugged.
"You're pregnant," Bucky grinned. "Everyone's sweet to you."
"I swear to God, James Buchanan Barnes, if you make a pregnancy joke I will make our bed so cold tonight that you won't feel your toes."
"At least he won't have those threats from Sharon," he smirked.
"You're lucky I love you," Allie sighed as she peered around to see Steve distracted in the living room before cutting another slice of cake.
"I know," he shrugged softly.
"Can I tell you something?" her voice was soft and thoughtful.
"What is it?" he looked over at her.
"As much as Peggy meant to him," Allie started. "And as much as I loved her, I think Sharon's his person. There's just something different about her."
"I've certainly talked to Sharon more than I can ever remember talking to Peggy," Bucky admitted.
"Granted we're not in a global war nowadays," Allie sighed. "But I can't explain it, it's just this feeling I have."
"You tend to have good instincts," he nodded, firmly holding the baby with his vibranium arm, letting the tiny hand of his son curl around his finger. "But I think you're right."
Glancing up to see Steve's figure in the other room, Allie smiled. Looking back to Bucky and Steven, Allie couldn't help but let her mind wander to what the future was going to look like.
And in the very back of her mind, she knew she had to have Sharon over for lunch the next day.
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"Mom, my ears hurt," Steven whined.
"Are we there yet?" Sarah added.
"Stevie, Sarah, we're about to be there," Sam called from where he sat piloting the Quinjet.
It had taken some convincing, but Allie and Bucky had gotten him to agree to go with them to Wakanda. As they watched the scenery change in front of them, they listened to the loud chatter of their children in the background.
"It's been a while since we were last here together," Bucky smirked.
"I believe the last time you and I were here we'd just woken up from being blipped," Allie remembered. "That entire ordeal sometimes seems like a blur."
"I know," Sam said from where he sat, smirking when Allie and Bucky shook their heads at him. "We're about to be in the city, get the kids ready for the landing."
"We're here?" Sarah asked excitedly.
Steven and Sarah excitedly chattered in the background as Bucky shook his head and looked over at Allie.
"Remind me why we brought our children again?"
"Because," Allie grinned. "They've never been to Wakanda. And they're adorable. T'Challa will love them."
"And that's the only reason?" Bucky raised his brow.
Choosing to turn to the kids, Allie watched as their eyes lit up at the appearance of the city. The Wakandan Citadel was in view as Sam landed the Quinjet, members of the Dora Milaje standing at attention while the King himself stood with the General. The image reminded Allie of the day that she was reunited with Bucky. It didn't take him much to realize that that was what she was thinking when she herself bit her lip and took a deep breath as she faced forward once more. Placing his hand over hers, he gave her a soft smile.
Allie could hear the pounding of her heartbeat as Sam finally opened the door to the Quinjet and it was time to walk out. Sam waved Allie and Bucky on as he took care of the kids himself. Taking deep breaths, the two walked out and down into the sun.
"The White Wolf has returned," T'Challa smiled at the two. "And with his beautiful bride."
"Mommy! Daddy! Wait!" Sarah yelled as she ran down the ramp, hand clamped around Steven's as she drug him behind her.
"And they brought their pups," the General's eyes widened in shock.
"Hi!" Steven smiled brightly.
"Steven, Sarah, this is King T'Challa, remember?" Allie smiled at the two.
"A real king!" Sarah smiled brightly. "One time, Mommy said that Daddy's the king in our house and that she's the queen. That makes me the princess and my brothers princes."
"Is that so?" T'Challa smiled. "It is nice to see you two in person again."
"It's been a while," Bucky nodded.
"I assume there is another reason for this reason visit besides pleasure?" T'Challa looked at the two knowingly.
Looking at the ground and taking in a breath, Allie looked at Bucky and then to General. Biting her lip she nodded her head slowly.
"If you don't mind, Your Majesty, I'd like to speak to you privately," Allie watched as T'Challa seemingly observed her before nodding.
"General," T'Challa looked to his side. "Please accompany the White Wolf and the pups around the city. I will speak to Allison."
"I-" the General began but soon nodded after seeing the stern look from T'Challa.
Sam had joined the group, T.J. looking around before curiously glancing over at the General. Exchanging a glance with Bucky, he glanced over at Allie before dismissing himself with Bucky and the others.
"Daddy, did you really live here?" Sarah asked as their voices began to fade.
"Yes," Bucky laughed as Sarah quickly gripped onto his vibranium hand, Steven tightly holding the other.
A moment passed where both Allie and T'Challa watched the fading figures walking into the distance. Allie could still feel that constant, anxious pulse coursing throughout her body as she continued to face away. T'Challa observed her for a moment before sighing softly.
"How bad is it?" he asked directly.
"Bad," Allie frowned.
"I have had my eye on what is happening since I first heard," he admitted. "I assume that is why you came?"
"It is," she admitted. "We're facing an issue of international safety at this point."
"I am surprised that Captain Rogers is not here," T'Challa frowned.
"My brother and I aren't exactly on speaking terms right now."
"What?" his brows furrowed in confusion.
"I haven't spoken to him since the attack in Washington," she pursed her lips, only briefly looking up to see the shocked look. "And if you have an opinion on that matter or questions, please don't mention them. I already was chewed out by Peter."
"The boy?" T'Challa asked in surprise. "Now this makes me curious if he said something."
"All you need to know is that I said things I shouldn't have and Steve won't give me the time of day to apologize or talk," Allie sighed. "So, therefore, I'm going to continue moving forward in trying to stop Annika and her growing number of followers. Can I count on your support and help?"
"As you said, it is an international threat," T'Challa nodded. "I will need to still meet with my people, but I intend to help you."
"Thank you," Allie gave a small smile. "It seems we always ask you for something. I'm afraid I've never repaid any of my debts."
T'Challa gave her a small smile of his own before gesturing towards the open city in front of them. The two walked together as T'Challa began to ask her questions of what had happened outside of what news outlets would show on the television screen. Allie was honest in what she told him. She didn't think it was helpful to hide any details, her stomach bubbling with anxious thuds as she realized that there was one more thing to discuss with the King of Wakanda.
"Your Majesty?" she spoke softly as he led her out to fields, her family just barely visible in the distance as the kids ran through the Wakandan grass.
"Allison, call me T'Challa," he grinned. "After everything that has happened, I think it is fair to do so."
"Alright, well, T'Challa," she shook her head softly. "There is one last favor I need to discuss with you."
"And that would be?"
"There is someone else I'd like to recruit. I've already had Bucky's permission, but I won't go any further with it without your permission," Allie started.
"And who would that be?"
"I want to recruit Zemo," Allie bit her lip.
"Bringing your kids here makes more sense now," T'Challa sighed.
"I have reasons for wanting him on this team," she assured him. "The element of having unexpected allies, someone with a distaste for enhanced people, someone with knowledge about Hydra. I think it has the potential to be a good move."
"There may be truth to that, but what will my people think of it?" his brows were furrowed.
"I'm here because of that," she took in a small breath. "Out of all people, you should know that I have no reason to want to be around Zemo of my own free will. He framed my husband for what he did and I lost even more time with Bucky while he was here. I only want him on the team to take care of this issue that he'd have a motivation to stop."
"I do not know how long we would be able to keep him with us, even if they allow us to recruit him," T'Challa frowned.
"I know that," she nodded. "Who's to say they'll even let us recruit him and take him from the Raft. I just want to try."
"I am not a big fan of this idea," he admitted.
"I understand," she looked to the ground. "I suppose that's a 'no' then?"
"No," he shook his head. "I will help you."
"Really?" her eyes widened as she looked up.
"I want to trust you," he nodded. "Your judgement."
"I think you would have to be the one to go with me," Allie began to cringe ever so slightly. "To get him off of the Raft."
"Then I will go with you," he gave a soft smile. "And as for a fight, I can provide the Dora Milaje."
"I don't think it will be quite that large of a fight," Allie gave a soft laugh. "This isn't a repeat of Thanos. But, I do appreciate the gesture."
"The offer will still stand," he shrugged.
The two began to make there way back in the direction that they had come, beginning the hunt for Bucky, Sam, and the kids. Devising a plan for how they would approach other governments about bringing Zemo out of prison long enough to help track and stop Annika and her followers. As they finally found the group around a hut that T'Challa suggested they check, Allie noticed Bucky standing alone at the edge of a body of water. T'Challa's eyes followed her gaze and he gave a nod in Bucky's direction as he parted to meet the General.
Allie slowly walked up to Bucky, careful not to break his concentration. Behind them, Sarah and Steven were playing tag as T.J. toddled around, bringing Sam things he would find scattered on the ground. Bucky glanced over to the corner of his eye as he heard Allie's soft footsteps approach.
"There wasn't a day that passed that I didn't think of you while I was here," Bucky sighed. "I hated that you weren't here with me."
"I wish I had been here with you," Allie frowned as she looked to the ground. "I wish I could have escaped the real world for a while."
"I hate to break it to you, my love, but you'd have been watching me go through everything they tried after bringing me back out of that cryo state," he chuckled softly.
A moment of silence passed, both looking forward as he wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her arm gently with his thumb as he so often did. He let his eyes drop to the ground as he sighed, Allie's attention being drawn to look back at him for just a moment.
"I ended up remembering that day," he continued to look out at the water. "While I was here, I ended up remembering the Terrorist Centre."
"James," Allie spoke softly, feeling a pang in her stomach as the notion settled with her. She avoided thinking of that day. The only time she had seen the Winter Soldier.
"I know that we don't talk about it," he shrugged. "Hell, I don't even like thinking about it. But, it's in my nightmares a lot."
"Well, you're not him," Allie frowned.
"That doesn't stop me from remembering," he sighed and finally looked to her. "The look in your eyes."
"Don't do that to yourself," she furrowed her brows for just a moment before they softened once more. "James, if you say the word right now, I'll march straight over to T'Challa and tell him we won't go after Zemo."
"You don't need to do that," he breathed out. "You know how I broke him out to help me and Sam."
"But-"
"No. I think there's merit to your idea. If T'Challa's also agreeing to help you with this, then we have a solid backup," Bucky shrugged. "I just thought about that."
"Then why are you just now telling me that you remember that day?"
"Because whether or not we're on speaking terms with him right now, your brother is right. You're not a murderer," he sighed. "You don't want to have memories like I have. I know that you've still been having your nightmares, too. You're smart. You have good strategies. I just want you to remember who you are and what you believe before we add Zemo to all of this."
Allie went to speak again before almost being toppled over by Sarah and Steven who had each wrapped themselves around one side of her. They were out of breath and laughing, acting as though their mother was cover from the other. Looking down at them both, she gently rubbed the backs of their heads and looked to Bucky for help to stay steady.
He smiled at her softly before looking to the kids. For as traumatic as everything must have seemed from the eyes of a four or five year old, neither Steven nor Sarah let it show. If a stranger were to see them, they would never have assumed that the Barnes children had been attacked in Washington on a peaceful day out. As Bucky looked at them, he couldn't help but admire his children's seeming resilience. It reminded him of a young Allie.
"I will remember that," she softly assured him. "I'm sure Peter will remind me of that, too."
"Daddy! You really lived here?" Sarah was laughing as she pointed to a small hut behind them.
"I did," Bucky smiled. "Come on, I'll tell you all sorts of stories," he briefly looked up to Allie. "You know, I almost considered convincing you to let us move to some place like Missouri or Indiana so we could be farmers."
"Oh really?" Allie laughed as Bucky let Sarah climb onto his back. "What stopped you?"
Bucky's eyes simply dropped to Steven who was still hanging onto his mother. Allie simply shook her head with a slight laugh as she held her son closer.
"Couldn't pass up showing them Brooklyn," he shrugged.
Bucky took Sarah back in the direction of his old hut. Allie began to guide Steven back up in the same direction, but he held firm to where he was standing. Confused, Allie leaned down and brushed hair from his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked as she took in his furrowed brows and frown.
"Are the bad guys going to get us?" he asked.
"The bad guys?" her voice was barely a whisper as she took in what he was asking.
"The lady that tried to hurt you," he confirmed. "Is she going to get us?"
"Steven Samuel," Allie's voice was soft. A rich warmth had found its way in as she held her son's shoulders. "No one will ever get you."
"But what about you?" he frowned. "She tried to hurt you."
"She did," Allie nodded. "But, let me tell you a little secret."
Steven stood with his attention completely focused on her. In spite of how strong their children already seemed to be, Allie thought it would be foolish to think that Steven wasn't having any kind of confusion.
"You're a Barnes," she smiled. "You're strong like your dad. But your also a Rogers and a Rogers never lets anyone get them."
"Like Uncle Steve?" Steven asked softly and Allie felt that little wave of sadness at not talking to Steve hit her once more.
"Yes," she nodded. "Like Uncle Steve. But, like me and your grandma, too. Your grandma never let anything stop her. The bad guys might think that they can get us, but they can't and they won't."
"Are you sure?" he frowned.
"The most sure," she smiled. "Your dad is proof of that."
"Really?" his eyes widened.
"Really," she nodded. "No one's going to get us."
As Steven seemed to accept what she had said, Allie looked from her oldest child to her younger two, both hanging off of their father as he led them around where he had once lived. Deciding to join them, Allie took Steven's hand in hers as they walked closer and heard Bucky telling stories of what he had done while he lived in Wakanda. Giving Steven's hand a gentle squeeze as Bucky looked over to her, Allie knew that a part of her had needed what she had said.
She was a Barnes. There was a strength in her. But she was a Rogers as well. Taking a page from her brother's book, she knew that no one was going to take her down.