Return
A blink of an eye could barely take place before Allie had her arms wrapped tightly around Steve. She didn't know if she was crying or just relieved, but the moment she felt his tight embrace, she felt a sense of peace wash over her that hadn't been there since he had left that night after their fight.
The strong arms of her older brother tightened around her as she held on tightly, as if letting go slightly would mean he would disappear forever. The noise from inside the living died down as the others took notice of what was happening. Footsteps fell against the wooden floor as Bucky stood behind her.
Letting go of Steve, Allie turned to face the figure standing beside him. As it turned out, Steve had done just what he had set out to do. He had found Sharon. She looked like she was in pain, holding her side as she had cuts and bruises along her skin that Allie could see. Turning back to Steve in confusion, she took note of how he had cuts along his own cheeks, a bruise forming around his eye.
Taking a step back, she glanced back and met Bucky's eye in concern. While Bucky didn't say anything, he still felt uneasy as he looked at Sharon standing there beside Steve. Yet, he couldn't help but still feel the same concern as he took in their appearances that Allie did.
Sam and Wanda had both risen from their seats, rushing over to the front door to look at what Allie and Bucky were both looking at. Wanda's eyes widened as Sam and Steve shared a nod to one another in greeting. Peter remained on the couch with the kids, not sure if he should move or stay put.
"What are you two doing here?" Allie asked as Steve and Sharon still stood in the doorway. Ushering them into the living room, she found herself going on Sharon's opposite side to help her walk as Steve held an arm around her waist to stabilize her. "What the hell happened to you?"
"Annika," Steve sighed. "Believe it or not, we found her."
"Or more like she found us," Sharon grimaced.
"Come on, let's get you sat down," Allie sighed and helped her to sit down at the table.
"Uncle Steve!" a voice shouted as two little kids sprung up and crawled over Peter.
"Oh my god," Peter groaned out as the two little kids managed to knee him more than once on their way off of the couch.
As the two ran up to Steve, he dropped down to hug them both tightly. T.J. threw a fit in his high chair before Bucky took him out, dismissing himself for a moment to clean up T.J.'s hands.
"I can't believe you're okay," Allie sighed as she took in a breath and looked at Steve and Sharon.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Steve furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Steve," Allie sighed and she sat down next to Sharon. She brought her hand up to rub her temples as she propped herself up by her elbow on the tabletop. "I got scared a few weeks ago so I went to your apartment. I'd been trying to call you to talk to you quite a bit, and so did a lot of other people. We hadn't heard from you, so I used the spare key and went to your place. You weren't there, but your phone was and you not having your phone scared me."
"I left it behind," Steve shrugged.
"Why would you do that?" Allie narrowed her eyes at him. "I thought you could have been dead on the side of the road somewhere! I thought you could have been seriously hurt and the last things that we said to one another were awful!"
"Allie, I just didn't want to run the risk of being tracked with it," he assured her. "My plan was to go and find Sharon and then find you."
"Then what took so long," Allie looked to him in confusion.
"Me," Sharon sighed. "I didn't exactly make myself easy to find."
"What?" Allie looked to her. "Did you know that Steve was looking for you?"
"No, but I figured that someone might start looking for me," Sharon shrugged, grimacing before holding her side once more. "I figured that Annika would be after me too. After all, I'd been trying to keep in her check until she did that at Sarah's birthday party."
"I see," Allie's lips were pursed.
Bucky made his way back into the room, T.J. squirming to try and wriggle out of his grasp to run over to Steve. Steven and Sarah had been shooed back to the living room the moment that Bucky returned, T.J. soon being directed in the same way. Peter sat up on the couch as the kids pouted with crossed arms that they couldn't be in the same room as their uncle. Standing up, he repeated the instructions for the kids to stay in the living room as he made his way over to the other adults.
"Peter," Steve acknowledged him as he walked up. "We heard about the shelter. I'm sorry about May."
Peter didn't respond. Instead he looked to the ground, kicking the ground just a tad with his sock-covered toes. Looking back up to Allie, he watched as she looked back over to Sharon and Steve.
"What are you guys really doing here?" she questioned.
Sharon glanced over at Steve before taking a deep breath.
"I came to tell you everything," she said before flattening her lips into a tightened line.
"Everything?" Allie questioned skeptically.
"I can leave the two of you to talk," Steve suggested.
"I think that's best," Sharon nodded.
Allie gave a look for Steve to stay inside while she helped Sharon walk outside, stepping out onto the front porch together. While she hadn't seen Steve in a couple of months, it had been even longer that she hadn't seen Sharon. The two were silent as they stood in the cooling December evening air. Allie's arms were crossed over her chest as she looked at the ground instead of Sharon.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, you know," Sharon began.
"Well, you did," Allie frowned.
"I know," Sharon nodded. "And for that, I'm sorry."
"You said that you were going to tell me everything," Allie reminded her. "So please, what do you have to tell me?"
"The truth," Sharon assured her. "Where would you like me to begin?"
"Why did you do it?" Allie asked.
"I needed some way to get by when I was first on the run," Sharon shrugged, appearing to almost be sad. "When I was running, I found the lab. I figured I'd take a look around and that's how I found the journal and files. I took some and bought a lock to keep the box it was in closed. By the time I'd finally returned for more information, the box was gone."
"You went back for it?" Allie's brow raised. "Why?"
"I thought that there may have been something useful there. It was right before the Blip started. I was trying to protect myself in a world that I was getting used to."
"You sold the formula that made me," Allie frowned. "I'm Steve's sister and you had met me. Yet you still sold it. Why?"
"Because I made some lousy decisions while on the run, alright?" Sharon sighed. "I thought that it was my only way to stay alive out there. I didn't do it because I wanted to hurt you. It wasn't that I was trying to personally betray you."
There was a silence between the two as they each leaned back against a wall or a pillar. They weren't looking at each other, just looking at the ground as they weight from the conversation settled in. Allie glanced over at Sharon who was still frowning at the ground.
"We should have come to get you," Allie frowned. "We never should have let you be on your own."
"You would have had too many people in the group if you'd come for me," Sharon shook her head. "It would have been a risky move."
"You take risks for family," Allie shrugged as she looked up at her.
"Family?" Sharon's brows were furrowed in confusion as she looked at Allie. "You still consider us family?"
"Believe it or not, I didn't stop. But, it's going to take me a while to trust you again," Allie sighed.
"I wouldn't expect you to forgive me right away," Sharon's voice was soft.
"That's the thing. I do forgive you," Allie moved from her spot against the pillar of the porch over to Sharon. "I forgive you for what you did. I've had time to think, and I've had a twenty-three-year-old knock some sense into me. While I'm going to have hard time trusting you again, I still forgive you."
"Does this mean that you believe me?" Sharon gave a small, halfhearted smile.
"I want to," Allie nodded. "And if my brother trusts you, then I want to start working on trusting you again."
"You know, the first thing he said to me after finding me wasn't that he missed me or that he loved me," Sharon sighed. "He immediately wanted me to tell him everything."
"He really didn't know anything about it?" Allie asked in surprise.
"No," Sharon shook her head. "I didn't exactly think that telling him what I'd done was a great move when we started dating and got engaged. I figured that might be a deal breaker."
"I am the shittiest sister to exist," Allie's head fell to rest in her hands. "I had that fight with him and he still wanted to protect me?"
"I'm pretty sure there's been shittier sisters than you," Sharon gave a soft smile. "And yes, he did tell me what was said and what you said to him was out of line, but he knows you. I know you."
"A few weeks back, Sam finally told Peter what had been said since neither Bucky or I would say anything about it," Allie sighed. "He gave me quite an earful."
"Wow, the kid really stuck it to you?" Sharon teased.
"I've never been scared of him, but I swear he can be scary when he's pissed off," Allie gave a small breath of a laugh.
"I'll remember that," Sharon laughed.
A moment of silence settled on the two once more. Neither was uncomfortable, both simply just didn't know what else to say. Sharon sighed as she looked inside the window, taking note of Sam, Bucky, Wanda, and Peter talking as Steven, Sarah, and T.J. were all now hanging off of Steve, still happy to see him again.
"If you'll have me, I'd like to join the team. I want to help take down Annika," she held her breath, waiting for Allie's answer.
"I can't speak for if they'll trust you," Allie frowned.
"Then have Wanda read my mind," Sharon shrugged. "Then they'll know and you'll know that I'm telling the truth."
"Are you sure?" Allie's eyes widened. "You don't have to do that."
"I want to be a part of this team. I want to fix the mistake that I made," Sharon assured her. "And I think that this is a way to do that."
"If you're sure," Allie frowned.
"I'm sure," Sharon nodded.
"I'll take you on the team," Allie nodded. "But we have to start trying to locate Annika. Sam has connections that are going to be tracking her down."
"Is Peter okay after everything with the shelter?" Sharon asked softly.
"As okay as he can be," Allie nodded. "He's lost so many people. It's another loss for him. He's living here now, so he at least has us."
"I see," Sharon nodded. "I can't believe she burned down that shelter. That whole building with people in it."
"I can," Allie frowned.
"But why would she do that?" Sharon asked her with furrowed brows.
"Because it's how I burned the lab," Allie sighed. "She did the same thing to that shelter that I did to the lab. Down to the people being inside."
"Allie," Sharon's voice was soft as Allie shook her head.
"Let's go inside," Allie suggested. "I should probably talk to my brother."
Nodding, Sharon let Allie help her back inside before taking a seat in the living room. Sam and Wanda shared a look as they watched Sharon sit down. Looking to Allie, they noticed her nodding softly to them before they turned their gazes over to Bucky who's jaw was set as he cautiously looked over at Sharon. As Steven and Sarah took places on the couch with Peter, Steve held T.J. in his arms.
In the silence, Allie looked over to Sharon who was still grimacing and holding a hand to her side. Leaning forward, Allie reached out to her.
"When did Annika find you?" she asked her softly.
"Last night," Steve sighed. "We were already on our way to come find you guys. She happened to surprise us."
"Did she attack and then leave?" Allie looked up at Steve.
"No," he shook his head. "We got in a few swings. She and her friend are definitely going to have some bruises of their own today."
"Got it," she nodded. "Sharon, can I take a look at your side?"
"Yeah," Sharon nodded, still grimacing.
Lifting up her shirt enough for Allie to take a look, Allie sighed and looked over to Bucky. Not even needing her to ask him for what she needed, he nodded and left the room, grabbing her supplies from the bathroom before returning and handing them over to her. Allie set to work applying ointment and a better bandage to Sharon's side where a large gash had been.
"She got you pretty good?" Sam asked as he noticed what Allie was doing.
"Yeah. I guess you could say that," Sharon frowned.
"Well, you should be doing better now," Allie sighed as she finished.
"I'll take it easy tonight if that puts your mind at ease," Sharon gave Allie a knowing look.
"Oh please, I have three kids," Allie rolled her eyes. "We can never take it easy in this house."
"I can try," Sharon teased and for just a moment, Allie was taken back to months prior before she had learned what Sharon had done years before. It was a single teasing moment like they had shared many times before.
"Alright," Allie smiled softly. "Steve? Can I talk to you?"
"Of course you can," he nodded and handed T.J. over to Bucky who was still cautiously looking over at Sharon. Sighing, he leaned in and whispered to him. "Be easy on her. You don't have to love her, but for tonight, at least don't hate her."
"She hurt your sister," Bucky reminded him.
"And it's very clear that they came to an agreement out there," Steve continued. "Just trust me and Allie, okay?"
"I still don't like her," Bucky frowned.
"Just don't hate her," Steve sighed.
"James," Allie sighed as she noticed the two still talking. "It's okay."
Taking a brief moment to look at her, Bucky found himself nodding as he walked over to join the others in sitting in the living room. Allie and Steve walked away from the living room and into the hall. Allie looked at Steve for just a single moment before wrapped her arms around him tightly. Steve didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her as he heard he begin to cry.
"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice muffled against the fabric of his jacket.
"Allie, stop," Steve said. "It's okay."
"No, it's not," she shook her head. "I said awful things."
"You're human," Steve squeezed her gently.
"But you're a good brother," Allie continued. "I'm a shit sister."
"Allie, after everything you put up with when we were young? All those times you knew what was better for me to do or not do and I didn't listen? I think you're allowed to be upset with me from time-to-time."
"Don't excuse it," Allie looked up, taking the heel of her palm and wiping at her eyes. "Peter pointed out how awful what I said was. So don't excuse it."
"I'm not excusing it," Steve shook his head. "I'm saying I'm not mad anymore."
"You're not?" she asked.
"No," he shook his head. "You were right. Annika could have killed the kids. They're your whole world."
"Well, you and the others happen to be a part of that same world," Allie frowned.
"Allie, I would have been furious, too," he nodded. "Maybe I'd even have reacted the same way as you."
"You're America's golden boy," Allie frowned. "You would never have behaved the same way as me."
"Allie," Steve's voice was soft. "Do you remember that huge fight you had with Bucky? When you were pregnant with Steven? After he had gotten arrested and before he went off with Sam over to Europe?"
"Yes," Allie grimaced. "Why are you reminding me of that?"
"Because," Steve started. "That's the only real fight the two of you have ever had, right?"
"Well, yes," she agreed. "We decided that when problems came up we'd talk about them. We've always been honest with one another since then."
"Then what's stopping us from doing the same thing?" Steve questioned. "We don't pretend that the fight didn't happen, but make an effort to not fight like that again."
"Learn from mistakes?" she smiled.
"Exactly," he grinned. "Besides, I don't really need either of us being haunted by our mother."
"She would have killed us," Allie shuddered.
"And then brought us back to give us an earful," Steve laughed.
"Before killing us again," Allie grinned.
"So, from now on, we're honest with one another, right?"
"Right," Allie nodded.
The two smiled before Steve practically crushed her in his arms. As she silently lead him to the kitchen to fix him and Sharon plates of food, she noticed his smile had dropped and a frown had taken its place. Worried, she bumped him gently with her elbow.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"Did you really feel like I'd left you behind when I went into the ice?" he frowned, noticing Allie's widening eyes, he put his hands up quickly. "I'm not trying to fight."
Allie took a deep breath and set a plate on the counter before she began to plate the food. "A part of me did. I'd just lost my husband, or at least thought I'd lost him, and then to lose my brother a few days later..."
"Wasn't exactly the easiest?"
"To put it mildly," Allie sighed. "The other Commandos were great, you know? They tried so hard to keep me going and moving. But I was a bitch to them, too."
"Allie," Steve's voice was sad.
"No, I was," Allie shrugged. "I can admit it. I wasn't alone, but I felt alone. I guess it's because until I followed that woman, I believed that I was returning to Brooklyn completely alone. He and I had planned a life and I wasn't going to even get to see that life happen. I didn't even really get to mourn with you.
"But, now I have that life with him. I don't have to mourn for him, or you. I have the life that I planned out."
"And it's been a good life," Steve grinned.
"A very good one," Allie smiled. "Apart from the time that he and I died and then came back, had to fight a really scary guy, you know, our typical Tuesday afternoons."
"Can't forget about them," Steve laughed.
"But it has been a good life," she nodded. "And it's the type of good life that you and Sharon are going to have. I promise you that."
Steve's eyes widened as he took in Allie's words. Neither Allie or Bucky had exactly been the biggest fans of Sharon in recent days, and Steve had come to terms with that when he had been away.
"You do?" he asked in shock.
"I'm not saying that everything is back to the way it was before," she started slowly. "But, I'm going to make sure you have that life as well. I do happen to want to be an aunt."
"You're already an aunt," he laughed.
"I want to be an aunt to your kids, you ass," Allie rolled her eyes and laughed as well.
"They'll love you," Steve assured her. "When I have kids, they will."
"Well, we have to finish tracking down Annika's team and get my team's shit together," Allie sighed.
"Allie, I have never seen you take on a task that you couldn't complete," Steve shrugged. "You may have doubts or worries, but you don't quit. You finish things."
"Thanks for that," she smiled softly.
"Well, I'm only going to be honest with you," Steve shrugged. "You do still happen to be one of my best friends. Even if you're still my annoying little sister."
"Annoying? Have you met yourself?" she teased in turn.
"That's a cheap shot," he frowned.
Allie smiled at her brother before the two took the plates of food into the living room, handing one to Sharon who gratefully took the plate and began to ate. As they sat there, Sharon looked around at the expressions that surrounded the room. Taking notice, Allie cleared her throat a bit and looked at Sharon.
"Sharon's going to be on the team," she announced to the group, heads whipping in her direction.
"So am I," Steve decided, heads then turning to face him. "I'm not letting anyone else be hurt because of her. I'm not letting anything happen to my little sister."
"Then we call a meeting tomorrow. Arrange plans, train together, and after Christmas we all hit the ground running in finding and stopping Annika," Allie nodded.
"If we're going to have a meeting, then I'll tell you everything that I found out when I found the formula and the files about you," Sharon looked to Allie. "I won't have anything hidden from you any more."
"And how will we know if you're lying to her?" Wanda narrowed her eyes, defensive of Allie.
"You'll read my mind," Sharon shrugged. "I have nothing to hide anymore."
"Then it's settled," Sam nodded. "We'll head to the compound in the morning."
"Then I better get upstairs," Peter sighed as he stood.
Walking over to Allie, he gave her a hug goodnight and waved to the others before two sets of feet followed him, Steven and Sarah determined to have yet another sleepover in his room. T.J. had begun to fall asleep in Bucky's arms who looked to Allie and smiled before taking the newly two-years-old Barnes child to his room.
"I'll be back down soon," he whispered before disappearing.
Wanda and Sam each knew where their blankets and pillows that they always used when staying the night at the Barnes house were and quickly dismissed themselves to go to sleep. Sharon finished her plate and Steve took it, taking it into the kitchen and placing both his and her plates in the sink. Arriving back to the living room at the same time that Bucky made it back down the stairs, Allie, Bucky, Steve, and Sharon all sat in the living room.
A moment passed as Allie looked around the room, Bucky's arm sat against her shoulder as he held her beside him just as Steve held Sharon. Looking Steve in the eye, Allie smiled and felt that same sense of peace she had felt earlier once more.
The split between the Rogers siblings was finally being mended.