Archive of Our Own ^omega

Neither Milly or Steve could sleep the night before. Both having nightmares of past traumas invading their psyches. So Dad got dressed for a run and Milly watched Cinderella. The 1950 one from Disney. Dad kissed her head goodbye before he left. When the movie ended, Milly realized that the Starbucks closest to Steve’s running route was going to open soon. She decided she could go for a mocha frappe. Besides, she can start on her online school courses whenever she wanted so long as she goes there at least once a day.

Her mind made up, Milly got dressed in her comfiest jeans, sweatshirt, and converse. She snatched her apartment keys, phone, and her wallet and left. She just locked the apartment’s door as Nurse-Kate-the-flirty-neighbor-and- closest-babysitter. Thankfully, Dad ignored the flirting. It probably helped that he only saw her as a babysitter for Milly whenever he had missions or went out by himself. Kate waved at her as she also locked up her apartment. Kate must’ve had work, Milly mildly reasoned.

The teen left the building for the subway with Kate following her. Not that it was weird. Lots of people took the subway to work. Milly ignored her neighbor as she took a seat on the train and rode it to her destination eight stops away from home. She got off and walked down another couple blocks until she found the Starbucks she wanted. It was barely opened for the day as the “Open” sign flickered on. She walked in and ordered a trenta sized mocha frappe with raspberry syrup and rainbow sprinkles. She also got the chocolate croissant and the cheese danish warmed up and put in a bag.

She wandered down the street, taking her time to get to the National Mall. The sun was crawling over the eastern horizon as the sky painted in lilac, pink, and golden orange faded into the pale blue of the day. Dad was running on the main path, absorbed in putting one foot in front of the other. Not really wanting to bother him as he ran just to get admonished for getting Starbucks so early in the day.

Milly chose a bench far enough away so Steve wouldn’t immediately notice her but she could still see him. She ate her pastries as she played a game on her phone. The sky grew brighter as the sun climbed higher. Milly glanced up to see where Steve went. He was passing another runner, most likely winding the unknown runner up. She was proven right as the stranger yelled out something and tried and failed to keep up with Dad.

Steve did another lap as the other man all but collapsed next to a tree. Milly threw away the pastry bag after eating the last of the danish and croissant. She walked over to the pair. She wasn’t too far from them. They were clearly introducing themselves to each other.

Milly got closer to them and Steve definitely noticed her. More importantly, he noticed her oversized Starbucks cup. She just grinned impishly and walked up to him and the other guy, sucking loudly on her straw. The man was African-american in a long sleeved sweatshirt and basketball shorts. He smiled at her with perfect white teeth in greeting and glanced at Dad. Dad crossed his arms when she stood next to him. He still said, “Sam, this is Milly Rogers who shouldn’t have coffee so early in the day.” Sam snickered at Milly’s pout but still replied, “It’s nice to meet you, Milly Rogers. You like coffee, huh?”

Milly rolled her eyes but still beamed at him, “Nice to meet you too. And yes. Coffee is amazing. Especially with chocolate and blended ice.” Dad snorted and ruffled her hair. A chime sounded from his pocket interrupting their conversation. He pulled out his phone and read the notification.

“Well, it was good to run with you, Sam. If that’s what you call running.” Steve shot Sam a shit-eating grin. Sam laughed and said, “Oh, is that how it is?”

“Oh, that’s how it is.” Dad and Sam shook hands and motioned Milly to go to the curb. Sam called out, “Hey, if you ever stop by the VA to impress the lady at the front desk for me, let me know.” Steve agreed as Natasha pulled up in her black viper. She rolled the window down with a smirk, “Hey, does anyone know where the Smithsonian is? I’m here to pick up a fossil and its wayward offspring.” Steve dryly responded, “That’s hilarious.” Milly made sure to add, “Only if you’re stalker with bad jokes.” Dad grinned and Natasha actually sniggered. Milly tried to get in the backseat but was stopped by Natasha, “Hey, drink in the trash.”

Milly scoffed but still tossed the drink in the trash. Sam said “How you doing?” to Natasha which was accepted by the redhead with a flirty, “Hey.” Milly all but jumped in the car followed by Steve getting in. With a final goodbye, Natasha sped off down the street.

“Must you flirt in front of me? It’s bad for my mental health,” Milly complained. Dad snorted but still said, “You don’t get to complain today. You didn’t get a real breakfast today with your coffee, and you know why it’s not allowed.”

Milly huffed at the reprimand and slouched in her seat. Natasha butted in, “And flirting in front of you will help you build character, not traumatize you.” Milly scrunched up her nose, “I’ll pass, thanks.” Natasha snickered and pulled over when they reached her and Steve’s apartment building. Dad got out with Milly and took her upstairs.

“You know the rules. School and both breakfast and lunch before more coffee. I’m gonna text Kate, so she knows to check up on you when she gets off work. And I’m calling Mrs. Walters to make sure you have lunch.” Milly protested, “Not Mrs. Walters! She smells like dying flowers and cats. Plus she pinches my cheek like I’m four or something. Can’t it be Jesse? She’s cool.”

Dad stared at her with disappointment at the whining, “No. Now get started on your cereal. I gotta go. I’ll text you when I leave and get back. And if you’re good, I’ll tell you about the mission. Ok?” Milly scowled at him but nodded. Steve hugged her and kissed her head with a goodbye and left the apartment. She idly wondered if she could get more of that coffee without Dad knowing about it but ten minutes later he texted her, “And I’ll know if you get more Starbucks.”

Goddammit.
Steve picked her up from the apartment the next afternoon, after his mission near India. Not that she was supposed to know where her dad went. They both visited Peggy then left for the apartment after debating what to have for dinner. Milly won with her pizza argument so Dad went to pick it up for dinner after he dropped her off to finish whatever homework she hadn’t done yet.

Milly hadn’t been home long when someone knocked on the door. She snuck a glimpse in the peephole. It was a tall, older man of African-American descent with an eyepatch. Nick Fury she remembered. Carefully, she opened the door and ushered him in the apartment. She all but shoved him into one of the armchairs and left for the kitchen.

“Why are you here,” she demanded. Nick Fury raised a single eyebrow at her, “I need to speak to your father.”

Milly snorted, “No shit. What about though?” She noticed then how Fury was holding his arm. She ushered him in the apartment. He sat down on one of the armchairs and Milly grabbed the first aid kit.

“Where’s your father,” Fury asked. Milly started bandaging his arm and wrapped it too tight, Fury winced at that. Milly answered, “He left to get us some pizza.”

“Sorry to interrupt your dinner,” Fury apologized. Milly shrugged, “It happens. Nat does it all the time and tries to get Steve into dating. She hasn’t succeeded yet. And it’s annoying.”

Fury huffed out a small laugh, “Maybe he should.” The young teen glowered at him, “I don’t think so. I’m not ready for that and Steve isn’t either.” Fury almost smiled at her response, “You sure it isn’t you being territorial of your father?” She nodded, “Oh, he knows. He lets me get away with it so long as I don’t use my entire allowance on plaid shirts and starbucks.”

Fury actually laughed at that but groaned in pain right after. Milly sighed, “Stay right there. I’ll get you some water.” Fury asked for her to play some forties music before she reached the kitchen. Milly nodded and flipped on the record player and passed the front door. She heard someone talking outside it. She glanced out of the peephole again. It was Dad holding their food. He was flirting with their neighbor again, the nurse who watches her sometimes when Dad has to stay out longer for missions or even for a quiet date night for himself. She scowled but moved back towards the kitchen.

A few minutes later Milly had gotten out a water glass for Fury and a soda can for herself. The kitchen window slid open and she whipped her head to it, swiping a knife from the butcher block on the nearby counter. It was Steve, his shield strapped to his arm. He looked her over, “You ok?”

“Yeah. He’s in the living room.” Steve stealthily walked to the living room before she could say it was Fury. He stopped and examined the Director’s position and how the man held himself on the chair. Steve’s shoulders relaxed, “I don’t remember giving you a key.”

His expression was more serious than when she left. Then the other man replied, “You really think I’d need one?” The director paused, his gaze remorseful, “My wife kicked me out.”

“I didn’t know you were married.”

Fury responded back, his voice went softer, “There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”

Dad rolled his eyes, “I know, Nick. That’s the problem.” Steve turned on the other room’s light. Fury switched off the lamp. Steve’s hackles rose up again. Fury held out his phone where the screen said, ‘Ears everywhere’. Steve took in the rest of the room and Fury added, “I’m sorry I have to do this but I had no place else to crash.”

Fury held out his phone again, this time the message said, ‘Shield Compromised’

Dad read the message and asked, “Who else knows about your wife?” Fury got up from the chair. Milly moved closer behind her father. Her force field lept from her bare feet and covered the floor. She refocused it to surround both Dad’s and Fury’s feet and readied herself for anything. Fury answered her father’s question, “Just my friends.”

“Is that what we are?” Steve retorted back. Fury shrugged, “It’s up to you.”

The gunshot rang out and hit Fury. The man cried out and Steve shoved Milly behind him. Fury was shot two more times before she could get her force field up and around him. But it still caught him. She used it to bring him towards them both and out of the line of fire. He handed Steve a flash drive and commanded breathlessly, “Don’t trust anyone.”

More gunshots went off at the front door then was kicked open. A familiar woman’s voice rang out in the apartment, “Captain Rogers?” Milly’s eyes blurred. Was she crying? Kate, their neighbor, stepped further in the apartment, her gun raised up as she picked her way over the rubble. She got closer, Steve held the shield up to block Kate’s view of Milly.

“Captain, I’m Agent 13 of Shield’s Special Service.” Milly glanced at Steve, her gaze questioning and surprised. Her father steeled himself, ready for anymore attacks.

“Kate?” said her father. He had a confused tone but it was to get more information out of her. She did. “I was assigned to protect you and your daughter.”

“On whose order?” Steve demanded. He stood up straighter but kept Milly behind him. Milly clutched the back of his jacket. She tried not to breathe too much. They needed answers and they wouldn’t get them if she started bawling. ‘Kate’ made her way around the corner and stopped short at the sight of Fury lying on the floor, barely responsive.

The woman gasped, “His.” ‘Kate’ checked his pulse and yanked out a radio from her pocket and ordered into it, “Foxtrot is down. He’s unresponsive. I need EMT’s.”

A cracklely sounding dispatcher inquired, “Do we have a twenty on the shooter?” Steve looked out a nearby window. Milly saw his face turn stony at whatever he saw. She let go of his jacket as he told their fake neighbor, “Tell them I’m in pursuit.” He called out to Milly right before he jumped out their window, across the street and landed on the opposite roof, “Stay with her!”

Milly gasped for breath and moved out of the way of the EMT’s arrival. She stuck close to ‘Kate’ and commanded the woman, “What’s your real name?”

“It’s Sharon.” Milly hummed at the answer and followed Fury down to the ambulance. Sharon stayed close to her as the EMT’s loaded Fury up. A shield operative went with him. Milly followed in Sharon’s car. She went straight to the operation’s audience room. It was empty except for Agent Hill. The brunette walked over and told Milly she’ll be back with the ballistics results.

“Natasha’s on her way,” she added and closed the door. Sharon stayed outside the room, guarding it. It didn’t matter to Milly though. She was still barefoot. So she let out her force field to encase the room, including the door. She idly remembered her range has improved since last week. As she watched the doctors operate on Fury her crying started anew and it made her face dirtier and stickier than on the way here.

The door opened and her force field was knocked on softly. The touch of it was familiar. She looked over and saw Natasha wave at her. Milly opened it enough to let her in. They both watched the surgery silently. Steve arrived not too long after. His touch on Milly’s force field filled her with relief and she let him in with Agent Hill coming in right after.

“Daddy,” Milly whimpered and nearly ran to him. He held her close as she wept into his shirt under the jacket he still wore. He rubbed her back and continued watching the operation. “Tell me about the shooter,” the redhead demanded. Steve answered easily, “He’s fast. Strong. Had a metal arm.”

Hill stood closer to Natasha and reported, “Ballistics came back. Three slugs. No rifling. Completely untraceable.” Natasha interrupted her, “Soviet-made.”

“Yeah.” Hill agreed. Steve stayed silent and Milly tried to calm down but her next words were nearly intelligible between her sobs, “It’s my fault. I didn’t move fast enough. My force field was right there and I didn’t move it fast enough. I’m sorry.”

Steve hugged her tighter, “It’s not your fault, Mildred. You did the best you can.”

Natasha was cold and still at her confession and Hill stayed silent. Milly gasped for breath, trying to hold back her crying. To calm down. Her dad still held her close. Then the surgeons stopped the operation to restart Fury’s heart. The defibrillator went off. Once. Twice. Natasha mumbled something. Fear colored her voice. Milly took a deep breath. The surgeons checked Fury’s pulse. Hill sounded strained as she breathed deeply. Steve led Milly out of the room as she heard a doctor say, “What’s the time?”

Steve had Milly sit down and got her some water. She gulped it down despite him telling her to slow down and sip it instead. He knelt in front of her and squeezed her hand. Milly put down the empty cup and leaned forward. He caught her and picked her up. He sat down on a chair and hugged her tightly.

“Daddy.” She uttered again. He squeezed her closer to himself and rubbed her back in slow circles, “It’s ok, Milly-Midge. It’s ok.”

She didn’t know how long they both sat there but eventually she untangled herself from him and dried her face with a dirty sleeve. Hill walked up to them. “Steve. Mildred. If you’re okay with it Captain, I can take Mildred back home to get you and her some clothes.” Milly snuck a glimpse at her dad. He nodded, “You have your phone?”

“Mm-hmm.” Steve stood up then and hugged her again, “Ok, I’ll see you soon. I’m gonna find Natasha.” Milly felt him slip something in her pocket and pulled out her flash drive she used for homework. She showed him a shaky smile, “‘Kay.” Her and Hill both left the hospital.

Milly watched the sunrise turn the sky purple then pink before it faded out to a pale blue. She couldn’t tell how long the drive to home took but it felt both too long and too short when they arrived. She stopped at the stairs, Hill waiting for her to walk up them. She rallied herself and went up to the apartment. The door had fallen into the foyer, splintered wood covered her converse and her dad’s boots. She wandered to the bedrooms. Those were mostly unbothered by the chaos of the living room and kitchen. Hill stayed in there to talk on the phone in a curt tone. Most likely to figure out how Fury was shot.

Milly pulled out a large olive green duffle bag, a replacement relic from Dad’s Old War Days, and packed her dad a change of clothes and some of his toiletries. It was done precisely and she couldn’t really feel anything she touched. It was almost scary. Her force field operated on her sense of touch. But right then? She didn’t feel anything.

She moved on to her own bathroom and closet. She put her things in the same duffle and walked out of the apartment. Hill followed close behind her and they both went back to the hospital. She put the duffle over her shoulder, using the smaller handles to wear it like a backpack. Hill led her to the mortuary. Steve and Natasha were inside as Hill entered the room. Milly stayed outside it. Too scared to go in. It didn’t matter though, because Natasha burst out of the room with Steve right behind her. Steve tried to say something but the redhead spun herself around and demanded, “Why was Fury at your apartment?”

Steve almost shrugged and Milly butted in, “For pizza.” Her dad nodded but his stance was still too guarded. Rumlow interrupted then, “Captain. They want you back at shield.”

“I’ll be right there.” Rumlow pressed him though, “They want you back now.”

“Ok,” Dad answered, his voice nearly defiant. He turned back to Natasha who added sharply, “You’re a bad liar, Rogers.”

Milly took some offense to that, “I am not.” Natasha just grinned at her. Dad then said, “Milly, stay with Natasha. She’ll take you to school.”

Now, Dad may not be an actual “Man with a plan” until he gets to the last possible second, but he did get a headstart on living up to it when he adopted her. Which meant putting together a “few” safety measures. “School” was one of them.

Milly groaned, “Do I have to? Pretty sure emotional distress would excuse me for one day.” Dad gently pushed her blonde hair back over her ear. His fingers tapped the side of her skull. The taps were so light no one could tell it happened. But Milly could with her heightened sense of touch. “Let’s try doing our routine first. It could help calm you down.”

The flash drive Dad had switched out earlier burned in her pocket. She did her best to hide her sudden terror. It smothered her throat and tightened her lungs. Still she whined out, “Fine,” and drew out the ‘i’ like any other teenager would. Natasha almost looked amused but also held back a laugh. She touched Milly’s shoulder but she hugged Steve tightly with another whispered goodbye. Then left with the redhead spy.

Milly was able to track the drive from the hospital to her “school” better this time. She didn’t say anything about where to go. Natasha already knew with her secret spy powers. They turned onto the last street leading up to the school when the redhead finally said, “Can you tell me whatever Steve said when we left?”

Milly stated, “There’s no need to tell you. You already know.” Natasha studied her face as they parked in the front lot. “But I can help you.”

Milly fixed her with a hard, cautious glare, “Nick Fury got shot in our apartment by someone who knew where we lived.” Natasha absorbed the implications too late. Milly had already left the car and was halfway down the lot to the school she was supposedly enrolled in. She darted inside before Natasha could go after her.

Inside the school, Milly robotically walked through a couple of hallways to hide for a few moments in the student body. On the far side of the school she found a bathroom and waited for the last bell to ring. When the last warning bell finished screaming, she walked through the football field. Keeping herself from running was hard. A highway sat on the far side of the school beyond the sports fields. She watched the road carefully, waiting for a gap in the traffic to cross the road and find the nearest subway.

Black hummers steered down the side street leading to the school. Shit. Milly waited another moment and darted across the road between the cars. She slid into the underbrush on the far side of the street. She shot off down the tree covered trench that made up the highway’s median. Her force field went up instinctively and she readied herself to cross the opposite road. A train will be arriving out of the tunnel in five minutes. She stole through the first gap she saw and booked it across the highway again. She climbed down to the tunnel’s entrance and waited.

The tunnel had a walkway for maintenance but it decreased in width at the entrance. The upcoming train’s light lit up the darkness of the narrowed arch of dirt and concrete. It shot out of the passage and she nearly toppled onto the tracks in surprise at the train’s speed. She hastily crawled backwards though and stayed back as she waited for the train to pass. She watched for enemies behind her and above the tunnel. No one was there. Not yet at least.

The train cars ended soon enough, but far too long for her liking. She ran into the tunnel and hopped on the maintenance walkway. She stayed there until she reached the first subway station. She snuck on the platform between trains and took her time wandering to the bathroom. She kept out of sight of the cameras then slipped in the women’s. She took the closest stall to the door and changed her clothes. After pulling on leggings, torn up shorts and a black sweatshirt, she washed her face clean of any dirt and tied her hair up in a low ponytail. Milly pulled on some fingerless gloves and put her hood up. She left the bathroom with the duffle she still had over her shoulder and kept her hand over the army logo. Her sleeves fell past her palms which helped. She fell in step with the crowd leaving the station. At her first chance she ducked into an alley some blocks up the street. She traversed alleys and side streets, going in circles and making sudden turns at random intervals. Milly also weaved through different crowds until she made it to her destination. Dad was already there at the nearby diner. He was dressed in different clothes from that morning and drank a lukewarm coffee. Natasha sat across from him, also in different clothes, looking all the while like she belonged there.

Milly collapsed down in the seat next on Steve’s side and leaned against him as she caught her breath. Natasha smirked at her almost proudly and Dad tugged her closer.

“You’re pretty good kid. The train station was a bit obvious but your travel between there and here was clever,” Natasha praised. Milly narrowed her blue hazel eyes at her, “Why is she here?” She studied Dad’s expression. Steve put down his coffee mug. He looked almost sheepish. She groaned in reply, “And I’m the one who needs to stay out of sight better?”

Dad snorted, “In my defense, I’m more used to being bait than hiding.” Milly rolled her eyes, “Now what?”

Natasha hid her smirk behind Dad’s now stolen coffee mug, “What do you mean ‘Now what’?” Milly scowled, “Now you tell me the plan.” Dad answered instead of the smug spy. “Now we find a computer.”

“Can I eat first?”

They went to one of the malls on the far side of DC. It was kinda crowded because they arrived during the lunch hour but it wasn’t crowded enough for anyone’s liking. They circled around the mall, taking their time in the shops and boutiques. Finally they went to an Apple store. Dad and Natasha browsed the phones first. Milly went straight for the laptops. The other two met up with her and Natasha picked out a random computer. Milly slipped the flash drive into her hand.

“Ok, we got nine minutes to get the information starting … now.” Natasha put in the flash drive and her fingers flew over the keys. Milly and Dad watched her intently but was interrupted by an employee.

“You guys need help with anything?” It was a guy in his twenties with long blond hair. Natasha heightened her voice and cuddled Dad’s shoulders on her tiptoes, “Oh, my fiance and I are looking up some honeymoon destinations.”

The employee took the lie at face value asking them, “Wow, congratulations! Where are you thinking of going?” Dad scrambled a moment, glancing at the screen that said New Jersey. He replied with the information and looked like he died a little inside. Milly then piped up with, “You should stay home instead if that’s you’re guys’ choice.”

The employee nodded as he stared intently at Dad. Thankfully, instead of noticing Dad was Captain America, he commented on the stolen glasses. Natasha quipped back, “Wow, you two are practically twins.”

“Oh no,” he gestured to Dad’s physique, “Specimen.” He then pulled up his name tag and added, “If you need anything, I’ve been Aaron.” He left them alone to do whatever customer retail people did. Milly said right after, “Well, that was gross.”

“C’mon, how much longer now?” Dad urged. Natasha growled back, “Hold on. This person is slightly smarter than me.” She paused, “Slightly.”

Another minute passed and Natasha zeroed in on a location. Camp Lehigh. “You know it, Dad?”

He nodded, “I used to.” They left the store and separated. Milly aimed for the nearby starbucks and got a mocha frappe. Her burner phone buzzed. It was from Dad, “Be careful. And stay out of starbucks.” Milly answered back with a picture of her strawberry mocha frappe with extra whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles with the accompanying text: “Whoops.”

After wandering around the second level Milly ended up on the same escalator as them, a few people behind. They spoke quietly for a moment and Milly noticed Rumlow on the opposite escalator scanning the crowd around him. She held in a gasp and sucked on her straw and stared at her phone with her head turned away. In the corner of her eye she saw Natasha kiss her dad and they held the position for a moment. Just as suddenly they let go and left the escalator. She tried not to gag but ended up choking on her drink a bit. In revenge towards the traitorous drink she tossed it in the nearest trash can. And lost sight of Dad and Natasha

Milly found and followed after a gaggle of girls around her age, clearly skipping school for the afternoon. They were going in the same direction as her so she stayed close. One girl noticed her so Milly made her face look scared. It was easier to do than she liked. She walked closer to them.

“I’m sorry. But some guy’s been following me for awhile and I need to get out of here without him knowing,” she explained with her voice shaking. The girls exchanged looks then looped their arms with hers. One girl asked her, “What’s he look like? We can tell security after you leave.”

Milly nodded, “He’s six feet, I think. Kinda big with muscles and dark hair. You’d think he was hot but he has this weird murder vibe going on. He saw me earlier and has been tailing me since starbucks.”

The girls nodded and helped her to one of the exits. They kept going on the walkway. Milly barely left the doors when she saw a security guard run over to the information booth. Outside the mall a blue chevy truck pulled up and she hopped in. The moment the door closed, they sped off to the freeway.

Milly fell asleep two minutes into the drive to Camp Lehigh. It was peaceful, quiet. And she deserved it after the night and day she had. In no way whatsoever does she deserve to hear the conversation she woke up in the middle of.

“Well, that’s what it sounds like,” Dad chided. Natasha smirked. “I’m just wondering how much practice you’ve had,” she explained. “You don’t need practice,” Dad stated. Dawning horror fell into Milly’s brain as she began to understand the point of the conversation. Neither adult knew she had woken up either.

“Everybody needs practice,” Natasha said as if she had experienced many times of such ‘practice’. Milly swallowed back a mortified groan but held her silence because this current chat was like watching a train crash.

“It’s not the first time I’ve kissed since ‘45. I’m 95, not dead,” Dad shot back. Natasha hummed, “Nobody special though?”

Dad chuckled sarcastically, “Believe it or not, it’s kinda hard to find someone with shared life experience.” Milly couldn’t help but think to herself, ‘What about Peggy’s retirement home?’ But she continued to keep quiet. The ongoing train crash of a conversation kept exploding before her eyes.

“That’s ok, just make something up.”

“What, like you?”

“I don’t know. The truth is a matter of circumstance. It’s not all things to all people, all the time. Neither am I.”

Dad quietly said, “That’s a tough way to live.”

“It’s a good way not to die, though.” Milly’s pretty sure that was as close to vulnerable as Natasha could get. It was kinda sad. Depressing really.

“You know it’s hard to trust someone when you don’t know who that someone really is,” Dad added. Natasha hummed again. Maybe she was considering what he said. Milly wasn’t sure though. She had only met the woman a few times despite working so closely with Steve in the last year or so.

“Who do you want me to be?” Milly wondered if the question was both an honest question and a test and anxiously waited for Dad’s response.

“How ‘bout a friend?” Natasha returned Dad’s sarcastic chuckle from earlier, “There’s a chance you’re in the wrong business, Rogers.”

Dad stayed silent so Milly took that as her moment to shine. “Well that was an awkward conversation to wake up to. It went from horrifying to depressing real quick. One out of ten; Would not do again.”

“How much did you hear,” Natasha asked. Apparently, she liked chaos as much as Dad does even if her methods in causing it were different from his. Dad stayed silent though. He probably wanted to gauge how much ice cream he owed her. Milly was more than happy to convince him into getting her another three cartons of strawberry ice cream and more rainbow sprinkles. Oh! And bananas and hot fudge!

“More than any child wants to hear when they learn details about their parent’s sex life.” Dad sighed gustily at her response as Natasha laughed.

Oh, she was getting so much ice cream. And extra therapy. She needs it after all this was over.

Camp Lehigh was abandoned. Like completely empty of all life except for the spiders and their webbing attempting to overtake the compound. Natasha pointed out some pictures, mainly Peggy’s like she didn’t know who the woman was. Dad just walked away and Milly was unamused at her.

Also, could Milly just say, creepy secret basement floors in super secret headquarters is not her definition of a good time. The room was filled with servers from decades back. Natasha pointed it out then noticed the old computer connected to a wifi router. The spy put in the flash drive then typed in something and the computer whirred to life. The adjoining computer banks flipped on as well.

“‘Shall we play a game,’” the woman quoted. She started to explain but Steve interjected, “I know. I saw it.”

“And it was dumb,” Milly added. Dad threw her a dark glare. Milly minutely hoped she didn’t lose her ice cream.

Natasha nearly pouted too, not that it was for Milly’s possible loss of her favorite food, but went back to watching the computer load up. The computer then recited both Dad’s and Natasha’s birthdates. It saw her and as Milly began to understand with a dreaded horror, it continued, “Project Remade: Experiment: Number Zero-Nine. Born September 27th, 1974.”

Milly paled at the words. She hasn’t been called that since she left. And so many things from her early life of freezes and unfreezes, stored away and opened up, again and again, grew into knowledge and understanding. She always knew she was an experiment, a failed one with possible potential. She looked back at the memories of doctors and scientists with their white coats, incessantly poking and prodding her and the always armed guards at every door, every hallway, every single window, watching her every breath. She was from Hydra. Hydra had made her.

Oh, God. Hydra made her. She wasn’t born like everyone else is. She was made.

The computer kept talking, “- on two hundred, thousand feet of data banks. You are standing in my brain.” The strange picture on the screen paused for effect, which prompted Milly into her coping mechanism of being a smartass.

“That’s great. Can I shower please?” Steve ignored her. He questioned the computer further, “How did you get here?”

“Invited.”

Natasha interjected with an explanation of an old operation from Shield’s roots but the computer took over the narrative. It spoke about how Hydra lived on in the intervening years of when Dad crashed into the ice and when he woke up.

Milly for the first time after gaining her own voice was silent as the grave. She hardly reacted during the monologue. Static filled her head and her vision blurred on the edges. Time slipped away, hopefully for just a moment. She sorta woke up when Dad smashed the computer screen. The computer popped up on a nearby monitor to finish its dramatic speech but Natasha informed her and Dad about the incoming missile. Milly lept into action with Steve. He threw open a grate and jumped in with Natasha. Milly went in right after. Her force field lit up from her hands and covered the entire crevice they sheltered in as the missile blew up the old compound and destroyed the computer. She fought to keep her force field up as rubble and debris hammered down as gravity demanded. A particularly heavy piece of concrete and steel fell downward. It pounded against her force field relentlessly. The mental toil of its weight increased on top of it as more ruined pieces of the building caved in. Her barrier snapped after long excruciating minutes. She yelped at the pain of it splintering under her palms. The backlash replaced the heat in her hands with a black chill. The force field reappeared but only enough to protect her and her alone.

It got dark at that point.

“Milly! Milly! Mildred!” The voice was frantic. Almost pleading. Milly opened her eyes. Her dad was holding an unconscious Natasha in his arms. The fear in his expression sobered her up to take in the situation. Small fires crackled around them and a helicopter sounded from the distance, growing closer. She got up and they both hurried out of the destroyed Camp Lehigh.

“We need to go.”

Dad was silent after. Milly followed. Neither said a word. They walked for a long while. Natasha slowly woke up as they walked. She was able to keep up as long as she leaned on Steve’s side. Milly fell behind a bit. She watched him closely. Logged away every move and breath he took. Distantly she wondered if this ability of hers was given to her by Hydra or her time on the streets. She hoped it was the latter.

Steve looked back at her but she kept her head down. Her hands fizzled. Pain shot up her arms. She bit back a shout at the movement. Her power was clearly spent after the explosion. Steve stared at her a moment but didn’t stop. Milly realized she didn’t know where they were going. She slowed down more. Steve kept walking. She kept the new distance between them the same length. She kept watching him.

Again the night fell away into morning. Natasha was able to walk on her own a little better but still had the occasional stumble. Steve steadied her as they went, stopping when necessary. Milly stopped or slowed down to keep the preferred distance. She knew Natasha noticed but didn’t voice any concerns or comments.

It felt like an end to Milly. Eventually, she stopped walking. Steve didn’t stop. He just kept walking. Natasha didn’t stop either. She let them go out of sight then followed their tracks. But not right behind them anymore. Instead she went off to the right side of their trail and did her best to stay hidden. She didn’t know what for though. Maybe Steve’s anger was at her silence about her past or the Hydra operatives scouring the woods.

The thought of becoming Hydra’s again spurred her onward. After she sees him and Natasha get to safety, she’d leave for the streets. She escaped Hydra before by hiding amid the homeless and vagrants. She could do it again long enough to get away from both of them. She can take care of herself.

She always had before Dad.

Her mind made up, she strode after the tracks. A few miles down the road Milly realized she passed them. She backtracked and kept low to the ground. As she closed the distance between her and Steve, he and Natasha had stopped and their voices became clear enough for her to eavesdrop.

“She’ll be fine,” Steve stated, “We need to keep going.”

“Steve.” He stopped at his name. Milly leaned closer. Her distress continued to build up her throat, stealing her words in anticipation of Steve’s reaction. The woods quieted with it. The silence rang out amid the trees and foliage. She held her breath.

“What?” Milly’s heart sank at the tone. Natasha stepped toward the super soldier, ‘the man out of time’ comment echoed in her head. For once it didn’t mean displacement. It meant decrease. Loss. She remained quiet though and tucked away that little revelation in her mind to examine later.

“We should look for her,” Natasha answered. Steve went still. Like stone. A long moment passed, returned, and passed again. Steve spoke again. Her heart pounded in the intervals of its beats.

“She’ll be fine. She’s a survivor. She has more tenacity than I do.” Steve stared at her. His gaze swallowed up her vision and she could still scarcely breathe. Her fingers dug deeply into the earth. Steve proceeded to add, “She’ll come when she’s ready, Natasha. She knows I’m here.”

Natasha glanced over the forest around them, missing Milly’s position by a mile. That didn’t mean the spy didn’t detect her presence. The woman was a world renown spy after all.

Steve and Natasha reached a roadside diner. Milly followed them across the highway and slipped into the bathroom. She cleaned herself up as well as she could with hand soap and paper towels. A short study of the dining area showed her where Steve and Natasha sat. She left the diner and sat against the back wall of the building. Familiar footsteps went toward her after some time passed. She wasn’t sure how long. She never was good at gauging time.

The epiphany of that thought was squashed as the footsteps got louder. Instinctively, she ducked for the first hiding place she found. It was the far side of the dumpster. Not her best idea, really. But in her defense, she hasn’t slept much in the past thirty or so hours.

“Milly.” The sound of her name, the one she chose for herself, and one he honored every time he needed or wanted her attention left his mouth like it was any other day. A sob escaped her. Milly curled more inward. Blood pounded against her brain, flooding her vision, blocking her ears with an old, familiar ringing. Her skin sparked weakly and she jolted in pain. Arms encircled her small body. Her left side rested against something warm. A warmth she knew. A soft voice broke through static in her ears, and a scent she recalled being comforting, calming even.

When Milly woke up again, it was brighter out. Time had once again slipped through her fingers and she didn’t know how long it had been. She jerked out the hold on her. It was Steve. He watched her intently, she remembered suddenly that this had happened before. Mostly in their early days. Sometimes she’d wake up and didn’t know the year or where she was. Just knew it was farther down along the passage of time.

She didn’t go back to sleep on most of those nights. Neither did Steve. He’d always find her, buried in her blankets and pillows, sweaty from the trapped heat. He’d pull her out of her nest and take her to the living room, get her some hot cocoa, and turn on a movie. Typically Cinderella. It was her favorite.

Steve sat in the dirt, next to a smelly, half full dumpster, in torn ragged clothes, and waited for her to become fully aware of her surroundings. She was hit again with another realization. Chances are Steve already knew she might’ve been treated like she was subhuman at least. But it was never brought up. Because Steve told her right at the beginning that she can take her time, all the time she needed, to tell him what happened.

A wave of coldness splashed over her head and back, urging her into movement. Unlike after Milly first left the labs she had grown up in, when she would’ve bolted from anyone offering her comfort, she dove into his arms, sobbing hysterically. Steve, Dad, squeezed her so tightly and buried his face in her filthy blonde hair which had tangled into a matted mess. She wailed into his neck. Wails turned to shuddering sobs to gasps of air as she fought for breath again. Steve murmured, “It was fifteen minutes. It’s five after ten in the morning. The date is May twenty-ninth, two thousand fourteen.” Milly visibly relaxed at the given timestamp. Her heart and lungs finally calmed down enough for her to notice Natasha had sat next to them. A bag of still warm food was placed between them. Milly stayed in her dad’s lap. She tilted her head at the bag, silently but obviously, asking Dad about the food. He nodded and she swiped it off the ground and opened it.

Inside was the biggest and most mouth watering breakfast burger with the best smelling thick cut greasy fries she had ever seen in her life. She nearly shoved half of it down her throat but Dad tugged her hair gently, “Small bites. Take your time.” Milly pouted but obeyed him. She was so absorbed in her food she nearly missed Natasha telling Dad, “You’re a lot better with her than I thought.”

“She’s a good kid,” he said. Natasha knocked her knee against his thigh. Apparently the super spy had scooted closer to Dad as Milly stayed in his lap. She felt almost normal at that point, so she glared at the woman interrupting her breakfast. Or was it considered brunch at that point? She waved the thought away and paid attention back to the conversation happening right in front of her over easy egg topped double cheeseburger with extra cheddar cheese.

“C’mon. It’s more than that,” Natasha cajoled. Dad rolled his eyes at that, “Yeah,” and said nothing else. The older woman calmed down a bit but still said, “You’re so secretive sometimes. It’s fun to learn them from you directly instead of months of recon.”

Dad smirked, “You can’t be the only here with secrets, you know. Life’s no fun that way.” Natasha buried her offended but proud glare under a laugh. Milly had finished the burger and was nearly done with her fries by then. She sent the redhead a shit-eating smirk, her food half chewed when she did so. Natasha grinned back similarly.

Dad slowly got up which forced Milly to get up from his lap. He dusted off his jeans. Milly wished she still had their duffle bag but that was left behind in the truck. She finished her fries and tossed it in the dumpster behind her.

“Can you show me how to hot wire a car this time,” Milly asked as she caught up to her dad’s side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Natasha was on the opposite side striding at the same pace as them. Dad pondered over the thought as they looked over the small set of cars before them. It was slim pickings here compared to the mall.

Natasha wandered over a beat up, old Honda civic, picked open the door and unlocked it. She gestured to Milly to sit in the driver’s seat. Luckily, it didn’t have an alarm on it. Dad sat on the passenger’s side and walked her through the process. A few minutes later the car started up. Dad got out of his seat, “Ok, Midge. Sit up here with me.”

“Can’t I drive,” Milly begged and used her normal ‘puppy dog’ eyes that typically got Dad to cave. Only, he didn’t cave this time. “Nope. You can at sixteen like everyone else.” Milly whined a bit but switched seats. Natasha had taken over the backseat and laid down to rest. They pulled out of the dirt lot and drove back to DC.

A slow day later, they reached DC again after taking some back roads and detours. They ditched the civic at the fourth gas station they passed in DC and took off on foot again. They risked the subway for a few stops. Dad in the meantime borrowed Natasha’s phone to look something up then was taking them somewhere and as they got closer, Milly pondered on his intended destination. She took his hand to keep up the pace and gazed up at him, “Where are we going? And are you sure it’s a good idea?”

He shrugged, “There’s nowhere else we can go where they won’t find us right away.” Milly turned over the thought and wondered aloud, “But what if it doesn’t work out?” His lips quirked up in one corner, “We won’t know until-”

“Until we try. I know, Dad.”

“When did you start with the ‘Dad’ thing,” Natasha asked. Dad glanced at Milly’s flushed face. But it was a recent development for them. Milly had been taking her time about what to call him and she was still scared over calling him ‘Dad’. She never explained why because she wasn’t sure herself of the reasoning yet. But then Fury got shot in their apartment, their home, and she was so damned scared then. She still was.

And she could’ve stopped it! She knew she had the speed to throw it up before the bullets entered their home! Better yet, why didn’t she fully cover them all? It’s not like she couldn’t do it.

She tucked herself under Dad’s ragged jacket and he held her close. They kept walking and reached a more residential area. But they waited for her to answer. Milly breathed in deeply.

“I don’t know.” Milly hugged her dad harder. He stopped long enough to pick her up and carry her down the last street. She clutched his shoulders tightly and tried not to cry. He only put her down for them to sneak over fences and backyards for the last block. He picked her up again and Natasha knocked on the back door. Sam Wilson, Dad’s new running friend from last month, opened the door. She met him once. She joined Dad and Sam the other morning. She didn’t run with them but she did do some homework and got herself some starbucks.

Sam stared at them in complete surprise. Dad gave him a guilty but hopeful look. Natasha kept looking over their shoulders and Milly stayed in his arms but she imploringly gazed at Sam.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have anywhere else to go,” Dad explained. Natasha added, “Everyone we know is trying to kill us.”

“Not everyone.”

Sam opened the door wider and waved them in. He closed the door and nodded at Natasha, “I might have something for Miss Red, here and you can just keep whatever clothes you stretch out but I don’t got much for the kid.”

“That’s fine. We can make something work,” Dad said. Sam shrugged his shoulders and showed them the two bathrooms in his townhouse. He had Dad and her take his and Natasha took the one down the hall. He left out some clothes for everyone and told Dad to not steal all the hot water. He’s gotta shower too from his run. Dad grinned and had Milly shower first. She swiftly did her shower and an old memory welled up in her. One she didn’t have time to explore. Her dad took over as she dressed in what looked like sweats for a woman. She idly wondered if Sam had a girlfriend or sister living with him. She pulled them on and they nearly fell off. She yanked on an oversized shirt of Sam’s and fiddled with the pants. Rolling down the waistband didn’t help her much. Dad came out in sweats and a tank, and helped her tie the waistband off at her waist. In the quiet of the room, they stared at each other. Dad opened his mouth but closed it. Milly let him choose his words. He tried again, “Are you able to say anything? About- about back then?”

Milly’s eyes watered, “I didn’t know. I knew I wasn’t like them. And they didn’t tell me anything. They would just take me out of … something. It was cold. Always cold.” Dad cuddled her close. She held onto him. “I’m sorry, Midge. I’m so sorry,” he murmured in her hair. She buried her face in his neck, “Just don’t leave me, ok? Don’t ever leave me.”

“I won’t. I promise. I won’t.”

Milly was kinda happy when Sam bought some new clothes for her, Dad, and Natasha later that morning. She asked for a fitted green tee, gray blue skinny jeans, black combat boots, and a loose, dark red zip up hoodie. He came back with black pants, a bright red zippered hoodie, and black sneakers. She was bored waiting in the car for everyone else to steal Sam’s jetpack thing. She was more happy about getting to use the giant laser pointer. She was not happy when Natasha asked Dad about him dating someone from work. She was horrified by Project: Insight’s true goal. She was not happy about sitting next to Sitwell in the car.

Then something thudded on the car roof and that same something yanked Sitwell from his seat and into the traffic on the other side of the freeway. She was happy the man was no longer next to her. Of course that was before a gunshot went off between her and Natasha. It missed them between their knees. The redhead jumped into Dad’s lap. Pushing both Dad and Sam from the next two shots. Milly hopped over to Sitwell’s former seat and put a force field around the inside of the car, including the other passengers. It screeched from her arms and hands when it sprung up from her limbs. Dad put the car into neutral to get the person off the vehicle.

And it was the strangest person Milly has ever seen. It was a man. Dressed in black tactical gear and a fully metal left arm with a single bright red star. Her surprise had her force field flicker out. Then another car rammed them from behind. It jolted her into protecting the interior of the car again. It snuffed itself out. She tried again but this time she only covered the others. Sam hit the breaks and it jostled her concentration enough for the man to tear out the steering wheel.

“Mildred! Left window! NOW!” Dad yelled. Milly switched her focus from protecting the interior of the car to the left back door. Her force field filled up the seam of the door and reached around the outside of it. She pushed right as the car started to flip over. Dad pulled over Sam and Natasha and they fell out of the car. Milly landed roughly on the highway, lurching upward to stand. She ran towards the others. Natasha was sprinting away from Dad, the man had a bazooka aimed at him. She only had a second.

Milly ran into the side of the highway and gripped the concrete barrier. Her force field swept over the barrier until it reached her target. It still agonized her to use it with so little time to regenerate it after Camp Lehigh but she shoved it out to her intended target.

She was too late again. Metal Arm Man shot the bazooka right as her force field met his feet. Her dad was blown off the highway. A large crash erupted from the street below. Natasha fell off a second later. She didn’t know where Sam was. But she did have her force field around the man still. She pulled. The force field did as she mentally commanded. It wrenched the man over her head and it dropped him behind her by twenty feet. The men with Metal Arm Man fired at her from the hummer and her force field sparked up and encased her entirely before the bullets reached her. Metal Arm Man bolted up from his fall and threw her off the highway. She careened through the air, spinning as she fell. Her force field disintegrated as she lost concentration. She grappled against the air. She just wanted to grab something, anything, to stop her fall.She briefly wondered if time had stopped.

Her force field heated up through her chest and limbs. It engulfed her then stretched outward into a bubble shape.

Holy Shit.

She hadn’t been able to do that since she escaped, no matter how hard she tried. She can cover entire rooms and people from touching any kind of solid object or person. But not this.

The bubble bounced off the road below once, twice, three times before it stopped. She righted herself from the fall then bolted towards the fight. Dad was running at Metal Arm Man. His shield met the metal arm. The impact rang out. She sprung at the man. An opening happened right as she got there. She landed on the man’s back and used the force of it and her power to propel them into the asphalt. Metal Arm Man struggled against her grip and dislodged her after landing hard on the ground. Her force field disappeared midair. She smacked on top of a car. It drove the air out of her lungs. She gasped for breath. Her ears buzzed.

Metal Arm Man strutted over. Except Dad leapt out between some nearby cars and they picked up from where they left off. More gunshots fired at her so she focused on the four shooters for the time being. She aimed her power at one of the pillars that held up the bridge and focused it in front of them as they kept shooting. Then Sam appeared with a rifle and killed each shooter when her force field reached them.

“Go! I got this,” Sam hollered then proceeded to fire at the stragglers below the bridge.

Milly left the scene and searched for her dad in the mess of totaled cars and broken glass. He was too far away for her to reach him. Metal Arm Man stood back up, the black mask that concealed the bottom half of his face had fallen off. Her father stood still at the sight. She didn’t hear what he said. She just saw his heartbroken expression. She rushed at Dad and their attacker when someone threw a grenade at the man. It didn’t kill him. Instead he disappeared in the smoke left behind from the small explosion.

Another man dropped from above her. She yelped, “Dad!” A sharp buzz lit up behind her. A taser. A strong one. It met her spine between her shoulder blades. Pain sizzled inside her muscles and tendons. She heard someone yell out something. She went cold and the world fell away.

She came to with her head in her dad’s lap, his fingers tenderly combed through her hair. He just finished saying Bucky’s name. Milly knew that name. Her father said Bucky was his best friend since they were kids. And he helped take care of him and made sure Dad had some fun once in a while. He always seemed so … sad whenever it came up, even in the happier stories he told her. So Milly never asked about it. Never pressed for details. She felt it was too much for him. Including the times it came up in conversation. Dad would either shut down or change the subject.

How was their attacker Bucky? He was supposed to be dead seven or eight decades ago. Sam reiterated her thoughts. She drifted off during Dad’s explanation and woke up again as Sam said something about medical attention. She observed the inside of a van with Natasha who had a bleeding out shoulder and Sam both sitting across from her and Dad. Her head pounded. Her stomach complained whenever the van jolted over the road. Bile crawled up her throat. She vomited when the pain fired up from her spine and into her skull. She moaned.

A taser lit up the van then a man groaned at her feet. Another person spoke but it was unintelligible. A high pitched noise filled the van. It made her whimper. Dad picked her up and she mewled at the movement. She was lowered down somewhere dark and it smelled horrible. Being jostled around had made her lean over and vomited again. She may have heard someone saying her name or something but she blacked out after she stopped heaving.

Milly woke up later. Her head still rang and her stomach swayed as Dad carried her. Agent Hill was leading them. Sam helped Natasha walk down a much better smelling tunnel compared to their last location. A doctor gave her some painkillers and nausea meds. They kicked in pretty fast. She was nearly asleep afterwards.

A few hours later, she woke up in a cot in a different room where Dad and the others were arguing. She caught sight of Fury in a chair. She gasped. It ended in a sob. The argument paused at the sound of her cries. Dad stepped over to check over her. She kept Fury in her sight.

“I’m sorry! I wasn’t fast enough to stop the bullets,” Milly apologized. Her voice wobbled as she spoke. Fury shook his head at her, “You still protected me from any additional harm. Your speed will improve in time too.”

Dad squeezed her hand and asked if she needed any more medicine. Milly replied, “No. I’m just really tired.”

“Ok, go back to sleep then.” She laid back down and slept.

Milly woke up with Dad and the others getting ready to leave. She still felt groggy. But not nearly in much pain. Dad came up to her and held her face to kiss her forehead. She noticed he had changed again in clean clothes. He was leaving. To end it. Fear tore into her heart at the realization.

“I can help,” she whispered. Dad’s face didn’t waver in spite of her pleading. “No, Mildred. Stay here and rest. You used your power a lot in the last few days. You need time to recover,” Dad ordered. Milly grabbed his hand, “Will you come back?”

“Mildred. I’ll always come back,” he promised. “Don’t leave me, ok,” she begged.

“I won’t.” He left with a kiss on her temple. Milly couldn’t believe him. She was still uneasy at his departure. It settled over her bones. Something was off about him. It jiggled in the back of her mind.

She had to go.

The doctor checked her over again. By then she already made up her mind to go after him. The doctor interrupted her thoughts as he told her, “You should be somewhat functional in a couple hours. I don’t know if you can use your powers at that time though. I don’t know how long it takes for you to regenerate enough energy to use your powers fully.”

Milly gave a determined reply, “We’ll just have to find out how well I am by then.”

Fury entered the room at that moment, “You ready to get grounded after this?”

The thirteen year old grinned determinedly, “If anything I’m just following Dad’s example.” Fury smirked back, “It’ll take a couple hours for us to get there anyway. So you might be able to help out.”

Milly’s radiated mischief, “We won’t know until we try.”

“Good. Do you know how to snowboard,” Fury asked. Milly nodded. He looked delighted at the answer. “Get up. I've something to give you.”

Milly gingerly stood from the cot. She noticed then she was dressed in sweats and a tank top, both in black. Fury left the room. She trailed after him. They went down the hall then entered another room. She marveled at the sight. In the room leaned against the wall was a black hoverboard with one jet thruster at one end and curved in front. A pair of black straps were lined up in the same spots on a snowboard. It had an extra set of holes in case she snowboarded on her left. An ignition switch was positioned next to the lower strap. The board was also decorated with two zigzag violet streaks painted on the topside of the board in a “V” shape starting above the thruster.

It was so damn cool.

“What do you think?” Fury’s question was smug at her reaction. Milly beamed at him, “It’s perfect.”

Fury’s time estimate was barely under their arrival time. He made his dramatic exit from the helicopter and entered the building. Milly took her chance to go out the opposite side, strapped on the hoverboard. She stepped on the switch and shot forward. She nearly toppled over but kept her balance. Her force field came to life in halting sparks but it came out entirely in a few heartstopping seconds. Using her newfound flight ability, she leaned on her back foot, aiming upward to the helicarriers. She had a radio on linked with everyone else’s but her mic was on mute. She heard the third helicarrier was the last one on the line. Sam was just pushed off it. It was the Metal Arm Man from earlier. Bucky.

Thinking fast she flew to Sam. Her hands reached out and caught his right hand. He threw up his left one to hold onto her better. The momentum of his weight and the sizable drop of his fall rapidly dragged her downward. Her force field lit up around him as they sank towards the top of the nearest tower.

“Try to land on your feet!” She cried. Sam screamed out, “What?!” Milly ignored the question. He’ll understand when they reach the tower. She let him go when she was two meters above the building he would have splattered on. Sam landed on his feet and rolled to a stop. He ran to the rooftop entrance and disappeared down the stairs. She flew up to the last carrier then.

Dad said he was on his way to the intended blade room where the algorithm was stored. Milly reached the carrier. She flew higher than the airborne vehicle then dove for a jet to throw at the one of the helicarrier’s propellers. She touched one of the wings and grasped it tightly.

“Milly?? The hell are you doing here?!?” Dad’s scream nearly had her dropping the stolen jet. Milly switched on her mic, “You can ground me later! Just get that chip in before they shoot down a few million people!”

“Argh! Stay alive then,” Dad commandingly instructed. He was clearly pissed at her. Yeah, she was definitely grounded. She twisted off the mic so she could better focus on the jet.

One of the jets had taken off to shoot at her though and the guns on the carrier pulled out from under it and aimed at her position. Instead of throwing the jet she stole, she used it as a shield from the carrier guns and kept herself bound under the force field as well.

The enemy pilot fired a missile at her. Her power once again bubbled out further around herself like before. But she dropped the jet on the airstrip in the process. The force of the missile’s explosion knocked her backward. Her power shimmered out and Milly was wrenched down by gravity. The hoverboard’s ignition switch shut off as she fell below the carrier. The jet followed her fall, shooting at her. The missiles somehow missed her. But one of them nearly hit her force field.

Milly hurriedly stepped on the switch, praying that it started before she collided on the ground. The switch roared to life as she hurled up her force field to protect herself. She yelled in her efforts to right herself so she was paralleled to the ground. She pushed out her power again and raced at it. Jet barreled forward too. She swerved above it at the last possible moment and leaned down to seize the jet. Her force field covered the entire jet. The pilot fought hard against her control doggedly. Her force field flickered as she struggled to keep hold of it. The jet yanked itself and her towards the ground. The fear she felt in the back of her mind jumped forward. She shoved it aside. She couldn’t give up. She didn’t want to die.

Determination flooded into her power at the sight of one of the triskelion buildings at her left. With all her strength Milly charged at the tower with the jet still somehow in her grasp despite its struggle to escape it. When she got close enough she let go of the jet. It blew up in a ball of fire. The flames spread to the rest of the building and collapsed. She soared to the last helicarrier. Then her force field disappeared and the hoverboard’s started to cut out. Milly frantically directed the board to the helipad she originally flew off of. Somehow Milly kept the thruster going long enough to reach the roof. The edge of the roof clipped the thruster and pitched her to the cement. In her landing, her fingerless gloves tore open and she scraped her hands deeply on the roof. Her knees were in the same state with her jeans ripped down her calves. Milly’s feet were still attached to the board and nearly sprained her ankles were not thanking her for the landing. She turned back on her mic. In between She panted, “Fury? I’m down. I’m at the helipad.”

“Mildred?!” Dad yelled over the comms. He grunted as he fought. Most likely against Bucky. She huffed, “I’m fine, Dad. Just some scrapes and bruises.” She smugly added, “Was just doing what you would do anyway.”

“I know!” He grumbled then continued, “We’ll talk later about this!”

A chill skittered down her spine but she voiced her deepest fear in the most defiant voice she could muster. It came out quietly instead. “Will we, Dad,” she challenged. His com went silent.

Maybe from the shock. Maybe because she was right.

She switched off the com. She settled herself in the copter as Fury and Natasha scrambled for it. They took off from the helipad. They hadn’t mentioned or acknowledged Milly’s statement, instead they focused on finding Sam.

Dad turned his com back on. “Charlie lock!” Hill immediately told him to leave. He said no. “Steve,” she cried in protest. Everyone was too stunned to object. Milly wasn’t though. Instead she went numb.

The helicarriers shot each other and wrecked into the Potomac below or into the remaining triskelion towers. The towers crumpled under the impact and the helicarriers fell with them.

Sam told them he was on the forty-first floor. Natasha ordered him to stay where he is. Sam yelled, “Not an option!” One of the carriers was cutting into the building. His floor must’ve been caving in under his feet. The man leapt out the busted window. Fury turned the copter on its side then corrected its position before Sam could fall out of the copter as well.

“Forty-first floor! Forty-first!” Sam tried to catch his breath. Fury responded, “It’s not like they put the floor numbers on the outside of the building.” Sam’s laugh was stuttered in leftover adrenaline and terror.

“Hill! Where’s Steve?” Natasha sounded almost frantic. Hill must’ve responded because the redhead ordered Fury to fly over to the last flying helicarrier. The helicarrier was falling apart from the bottom up with barely a third left of the glass dome. If she squinted, she could see Bucky punching her dad. Dad didn’t seem to be stopping him. Frustrated anger and hate (or was it just disappointment) choked her lungs and heart. Then more of the dome fell in the Potomac with the rest of the wreckage. The helicopter stayed still in the air. Shock had overtaken them at the sight.

Her dad fell with the wreckage.

Bucky jumped after him. Milly couldn’t see the man’s face. The copter was too far away for that. The helicopter sped over the Potomac. The adults searched for where Dad and Bucky could’ve ended up. As the copter got closer to the water, the adults searched harder for the two men. Milly had then noticed how close to shore they were. As quiet as possible she unzipped her hoodie as the others focused on finding Dad. She did the same with her combat boots. Then leapt off the helicopter.

The water was cold and murky but still clear enough for her to search behind the copter. There were still large and small pieces of the helicarrier dropping into the river as it was overtaken by gravity. She swam further down to the depths to avoid getting hit as hard. Her force field stayed dormant, so she had to swim up to risk taking a breath. She glanced at the shore. In the distance she saw two figures on the shore. The copter had gone on down the river, out of reach for any kind of contact.

Milly swam for the shore. She tired quickly though. Water beated against her face, some even got into her mouth. She coughed and choked it out. Between waves she yelled, “Dad! Dad!”

Bucky stopped at her father’s prone figure. Dad was still. Nevertheless, she struggled for shore. Bucky had heard her cries and started towards her. He got back in the river and swam out to reach her. He grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her closer to his metal arm. The change of character made Milly’s head spin but she fought him. He brought them both to shore despite it. He got them both to the shore anyway. He left her by Dad. As he began to leave them Milly begged him, “Please. Don’t leave him.”

Bucky gazed at her with a doubtful patience. So Milly barreled on, “I don’t know why but when Dad realized who you are… or was, he woke up. I guess. I don’t know. He’s just been different.”

Tears trickled down her face. Before she went on, Bucky was there and he held her face gently, rubbing away her tears.

“Please stay,” she pleaded. But Bucky shook his head. “No.” He paused as he took in her desperate, furious scowl, “But if there’s anyone who could keep him in line, it’s you.”

Dad moaned and began to stir. Bucky looked at him but Milly couldn’t begin to describe it. He probably didn’t know himself. Bucky then gave her one last glance and walked into the woods. Milly stayed with Dad.

Her and Dad were found soon after Bucky left. Dad was taken to the hospital for surgery. She was taken there to be examined for any injuries. She was more or less fine.

The next day, Dad was still asleep in the hospital bed. His room was situated furthest down the hall and had it to himself for privacy. Sam had her stay at his place and had taken her to the hospital the next morning. When they came in, he sat on Dad’s right after he put on some music. Milly originally sat on the other side. But she had a long night of tossing and turning. And it wouldn’t be the first time they shared a bed. Milly still had a lot of nightmares from her captivity. Dad would sometimes have her sleep next to him so she could rest better. It helped most of the time. She definitely needed it now.

Her mind made up, Milly climbed on the bed and laid down next to her dad. Sam didn’t stop her. Curling into his side, she fell asleep.
Milly woke up to fingers running through her hair. She looked up. Dad was awake. “Hey, how are you,” Dad whispered. Sam was gone for the moment. So it was just them in the room.

Milly just got off the bed. Dad called after her but she left the room, slamming the door. She ended up on the roof. The railings had bars spaced out enough for her to sit behind one bar with her feet hung over the edge. She hugged the bar between her legs and with her head on one side of it. The view below her was kind of pretty. She could see the Potomac from here. If she ignored the wreck of SHIELD Headquarters. And the various houses and buildings leading up to the river were put out in the usual gridlike formation common in most American cities.

The roof access door opened. Milly stared ahead. Silently whoever came up there sat down next to her. It was Dad. He pulled on the sweatpants that Sam bought him before they got to the hospital. He sat next to her.

“You were going to leave.”

Dad gazed at her astonished at the statement. He shook his head, “I wasn’t.”

Milly scowled at him, her eyes glittered in distressed anger. Her next words were a demand. “Then explain that last fight.”

Dad sighed, “I knew if he was going to be saved, he had to remember me first. It would help him start to heal.” Milly scoffed, “And I bet you want to be there every step of the way, huh? And forget about everything else.”

Dad smiled at her. The love in his expression almost erased her doubts of the last few days. Dad continued, “I could never forget you. You saved me from myself. You still do.”

Milly grumbled but let Dad hug her with one arm. He said then, “Bucky was always there for me. When I was growing up. He helped my ma with caring for me and after she died, he had us move in together. He made most of the money most of the time. I couldn’t get or keep a job because I was always sick.”

Mily watched his face as he reminisced about his past life. He kept going, “He was always … my friend. I had to help him. I knew I could then, and I know I can now. But you’re just as special to me. I’m not leaving you.”

Milly shook her head, “And what if you resent me for holding you back from looking for him?”

Dad didn’t refute her question right away but still said, “Yes, I do want to find him now. But he’s an adult. He can care for himself for the most part. He’ll make sure he’s safe. He’s as stubborn as you are. And you’re still a child. And your needs and wants are more important. Bucky understands that. Or he will.”

Milly finally snuggled into his side. She already knew that but still took her time to answer, “Ok.”

She hadn’t mentioned her and Bucky’s talk at the river yet. She didn’t know why, but the conversation her and Bucky had felt private, personal. Telling anyone about it felt like sacrilege somehow. So she kept it secret. Just for now.

Dad interrupted her thoughts, “I promise to never leave you. I love you too much to do that, Milly-Midge.” His promise settled her for the most part. Although she was still scared he wouldn't keep it.

“Love you too,” she answered back. She meant it, wholeheartedly even, but the words tasted like ash.

The Winter Soldier had so many questions. He had some memories, glimpses really, appear. Or did they reappear? He wasn’t sure. But the man, Steve, his mind whispered, was important. He knew that. The conviction of it consumed his very being. He didn’t know why. He didn’t remember the girl. She was so sad and she looked so much like the man, Steve, his mind repeated. And the thought of it was… miserable? He didn’t really know what that meant but the feeling of it hurt for some reason. She also looked like someone else but he couldn’t guess who it was. Or is.

As he mulled over his thoughts, he wandered down the streets of DC the river he left Steve at, winded through. He looked up at a street lamp as he observed his surroundings. On it was a cloth poster with Steve’s face on it wearing his blue helmet. The poster said in too cheerful words: “The Captain America Exhibit is here! Come to the Smithsonian to see it! The exhibit ends on July 10th, 2014!”

BUcky stopped on the sidewalk at the sight of it. People walked around him as they hastily went to their destinations, wherever those were. He stared at it for God knows how long. Then found the nearest alley and pulled out a physical map of the city. The Smithsonian was a museum and was only a few blocks away from him. He’ll start there to better understand the memories that surfaced in the days and nights the longer he stayed out of Hydra’s control. With that in mind he crossed the street and went to the museum.