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"Have fun with those gentlemen. I'm going for coffee," Vicky said as she exited her lab on the Avengers' campus.
Instead of walking the halls to the cafeteria she decided to enjoy the sunny day and take a short cut across the lawn. Just as she reached the half-way point gold sparks filled the air and things became distorted. A portal opened and through it she saw Dr. Strange, but he didn't look quite right.
"Dr. Strange?"
"Yes, but not yours," he answered hastily. He looked beyond the view of the portal and yelled. "Peggy! Hurry! I can't keep this open much longer!"
Vicky heard footsteps and gun shots getting closer. She took a step closer to the portal.
"Stay there," he ordered. "Damnit Peg!" He looked to his cloak. "Get her."
The cloak disappeared from view and a yelp of disapproval was heard. "Stephen, don't do this." The woman came into view and Vicky nearly gasped. "I'm not leaving you alone with those creatures."
"Yes, you are, because I'm not letting you die to them," he answered. "Now go." The cloak threw her and a large piece of metal through the portal where she landed practically at Vicky's feet. "Take care of her V," he said with a pleading look. He then turned to the woman. "Live a good life, and keep being you." With that he closed the portal.
"Stephen!" she cried. "Damn you Strange!" She punched the ground.
Vicky slowly walked to her and knelt beside the upset woman. She didn't know how to comfort the woman before her, but she had to say something. "My name is Victoria Black. Is there anyway I can help you?"
She cleared her throat and straightened her posture. "My name is Peggy Carter. I'm also known as Captain Carter." She smiled warmly. "I don't imagine that Stephen would've opened that portal in front of you if you couldn't help me."
"I'm flattered, but right now my gut is telling me to take you to my friends," Vicky stood and offered Peggy a hand up. "You may even recognize a couple."
Peggy took her hand. "Thank you Ms. Black."
"You can call me Victoria, or Vicky," she told her.
"Thank you, Victoria," Peggy smiled. "Stephen told me that this universe lost its Peggy Carter. Is that true?"
"It is. Agent Carter died some years ago," she answered. "Though Steve was able to see her before that happened."
"Steve? He's alive?" Peggy asked breathlessly.
"Yes Captain. He's alive and well. We call him Captain America," Vicky told her.
"Please, call me Peggy."
"As you wish."
"Does his rank and title mean that he was the one to receive the serum in this universe?" Peggy asked.
"Yes, he received the original super soldier serum." Vicky took in the sight of the beautiful and muscular woman that stood before her, really took her in, and finally noticed the shield that still laid on the ground. "I take it you were the recipient in your timeline?"
"I did, yes."
Vicky smiled. "I can't wait until Steve sees you. Follow me."
Peggy grabbed he shield and followed Victoria back to her lab. When she opened the door Peggy gasped and all heads turned towards the women.
"Who's your friend Vicky?" Sam asked, somewhat leery of the woman. He knew her face was familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on why.
"Peggy?" Steve asked in disbelief.
"Steve?" Peggy asked with just as much disbelief.
"How?" Bucky asked.
"A portal opened up outside and Doctor Strange's cloak threw her into our timeline," Vicky answered. "He said he wasn't our Doctor, though I could tell that just by how he looked.
"Why would he make you leave your timeline?" Sam asked her.
"We were the only humans left. Everyone else had been infected by these awful spores," Peggy explained solemnly. "He believed that he could generate a spell to cure them, but wasn't confident enough to risk my life, only his. He didn't want to see me infected or die if he failed, so he opened a portal to a universe that had lost their Peggy."
"I hope that he was successful," Victoria offered.
"Yes, so do I," Peggy replied.
"Well, we're happy to have you in our universe," Bucky said with a smile.
"And I'm happy to see your smiling face again Sergeant Barnes," Peggy returned his smile.
"Call me Bucky, please."
Peggy nodded then turned to Sam. "Who might you be?"
"Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, and it's a pleasure to meet you Agent Carter," he answered and held out his hand.
"Actually Sam, it's Captain Carter, not Agent," Victoria corrected.
"You can call me Peggy."
"Sure thing, and I know you don't need to be introduced to Steve," Sam said with a smirk.
"I know that he's Steve Rogers, yes, but he's not my Steve, nor am I his Peggy," she corrected.
Steve and Peggy looked at one another and took in what they saw. While neither looked exactly like the person they reminded each other of, a feeling of familiarity was present none the less.
Vicky waved Sam and Bucky over to her. "Why don't we let them get acquainted? I never did get my coffee, and I'm sure you two could do with a cup as well."
"There's no need for that Vicky," Steve chuckled. "Besides, we need to discuss the weapons you made for us."
"I'll go get your coffee," Bucky told her.
"Thanks Buck," she said before walking to Steve.
***
The following days were spent getting to know Captain Carter, and her getting to know them. Peggy was staying in Victoria's guest room and learning the differences between her former universe and her new one. Victoria had even asked Doctor Strange to meet her in hopes it would offer her some peace.
Though Victoria spent most of her days in her lab, she enjoyed watching the training sessions that took place outside in view of her windows. She often took her breaks near the window with the best vantage point.
Peggy quickly learned how to best work with Sam, Bucky, and Steve. It did take time for them all to get used to having two shields to work with. Vicky always smiled when Steve or Peggy wielded the other's shield.
One day Bucky wasn't outside with the others when Victoria decided to take her break. She'd been sitting at the window for five minutes when Bucky snuck up behind her and whispered in her ear. "Enjoying the view?"
Vicky nearly jumped out of her skin. "Damnit Bucky!"
"That's not an answer," he smirked.
Vicky sighed. She knew he wasn't going to leave her alone. "Yes, I am, but not entirely for the reason you think."
"What reason would that be?"
"You think I'm mooning over Steve," she answered.
"You mean you aren't?" he asked with doubt.
"I do find him attractive, and for more than just his looks, but I also find Peggy attractive, also for more than just her looks," Vicky admitted.
Shock was plastered on Bucky's face. "I didn't expect you to actually admit to that so quickly."
"There's no point in denying what I figured you already noticed," she explained. "I do hope you won't tell them though. Steve and Peggy that is. I'm sure you've got a bet going with Sam over something, so he can know."
"You're right about the bet, I owe him $20," Bucky told her. "But why don't you want Steve and Peg to know?"
"Why should they? So they can let me down gently? Tell me that they're flattered but only have eyes for each other?" Vicky asked rhetorically. "No thanks, I'll pass on the heart break."
"Whatever you say Vicky," Bucky shrugged, and walked away. "I think you're wrong though."
***
A few weeks later Victoria was in her lab working on explosive devices and toxic chemicals, so all the windows were open. She was wholly concentrated on the project in front of her, barely registering the rock music coming from her speaker by the window that looked out on her friends training exercise.
"You've got good taste in music," Scott Lang said as he walked in.
"Thanks, but could you leave? I'm kinda in the middle of something rather delicate just now," Vicky told him, not taking her eyes off the chemicals she was mixing.
"I totally get it, but I was hoping to talk to you," Scot said, leaning against the door frame.
"Give me 20 minutes, then I'm all yours," she said, only looking away from her experiment to write down a note.
"I can wait," Scott said while walking to an empty seat.
"Fine, just keep quiet," she told him. She wasn't trying to be rude to Scott, she like Ant Man well enough, but her experiment was important and delicate.
"Not a problem. You won't hear a peep out of me. Not a word."
"Scott!"
"Sorry."
Ant Man stayed quiet for all of five minutes. That's all the time it took for him to start bouncing his leg and tapping the table.
"Scott, I know you can't help the stimming, but could you take it elsewhere?" she asked, finally looking at him. "I know you can't help it, but the tapping and stool squeaking from the leg bouncing is distracting."
"Vicky..." he tried saying as the chemicals changed colors.
"Don't worry Scott, I'm not mad, and we can still talk later, but I really need to focus right now. The second this mixture turns red I need to stabilize it, or it will explode when it goes yellow," she told him, as the chemicals started turning orange.
"Then we should get out of here," he said before deploying his suit and shrinking.
Vicky turned and looked at her experiment. "Shit!" The color was getting lighter by the second. She ran to the window with the speaker and jumped through it parkour style. Once on the ground she started running towards the training soldiers.
Peggy and Steve saw her running towards them and instinctually knew something was wrong. They started running to meet her and Sam ran to Bucky when a glow started emanating from Vicky's lab. The captains reached Victoria just as the light reached blinding levels of brightness. The instantly knelt and took cover under their shields with Vicky between them. Sam guarded himself and Bucky under his wings. A second later the mixture blew.
Once the debris stopped falling the group came out of cover and looked to Vicky's lab. It was a smoldering crater.
"Damnit!" Vicky swore as she punched the ground. "I was so close!"
"Victoria, what was that?" Peggy asked with great concern.
She sighed and straightened her posture. "I was working on a new explosive to be used strictly on threats like Ultron or Thanos."
Sam and Bucky walked up as she explained. "What went wrong?" Sam asked in a gentle tone.
"I did," she answered with her gaze fixed on a bit of smoking metal not far from them. "I allowed myself to be distracted by Scott. I looked away from the heating chemicals to chide him and ask that he leave. I could've done that without looking away, but I messed up." Tears started streaming down her face. "I've been working on this for months."
Steve put a hand on her shoulder. "You're human Vicky, slip-ups happen."
"I'd call this more than a slip-up Steve," she sniffled.
He gave a small shrug. "Slip-ups of a larger nature are to be expected when you're prepping to save the world. Just look at the things Tony has done. You only blew up a lab; Tony created an army of robots that turned evil."
Victoria sighed again. "I appreciate you trying to cheer me up Steve, but Tony is still seen as a hero, albeit a problematic one, but still a hero. I'm invisible. I was trying to prove that I deserve to work here. All of the other scientists have completed majors projects and wowed Dr. Stark. They also keep saying that the only reason I'm kept around is because I'm friends with you lot."
"You must know that isn't true," Peggy said, placing a hand on Victoria's other shoulder. "You are the brightest person I've met since Howard Stark."
Victoria was thankful her face would still be red from crying so that Peggy wouldn't see her blushing. "I know I'm smart Peggy, though I wouldn't dare compare myself to either Starks. I just wanted to prove myself and show those arrogant bastards that I'm more than just a friend of the super soldiers."
"You will Vicky. I have no doubt about that," Steve reassured her. "And you are just as brilliant as Howard or Tony, equally charming, and infinitely more kind hearted."
"Thank you both for everything you've said," Victoria said as she stood, the captains standing with her. "I think I should go home and decompress. If you see Mr. Lang, do tell him that while I'm not mad at him, it would be wise to stay away from me for a week or so."
"Bucky and I will go hunt him down after we deal with the clean up crew," Sam said as he dragged the Winter Soldier behind him.
Victoria sighed again. "Why do I get the feeling that you're going to insist on accompanying me to ensure that I don't do something self-destructive?"
"Because we are," Peggy said in her most charming voice.
Victoria knew she couldn't deny them, especially since Peggy lived with her. "As you wish."
That evening was spent watching old movies and sharing a bottle of whiskey. She sat between the captains and was feeling more relaxed that she had in some time, no doubt due to the alcohol. Even though she considered Steve and Peggy to be trusted friends, her crush on them both makes it hard to relax around them.
As the night wore on Victoria really started to feel the whiskey. She stood and stretched, somehow managing to keep her balance. "I think I'm gonna head to bed. You two feel free to keep watching movies." When she reached her room she called out to the pair. "Steve, feel free to take the couch if you had planned on showing up first thing in the morning anyhow."
Steve had not only take the couch, but also cooked breakfast. He and Peggy offered to stay at the apartment with her all day, but Victoria wouldn't hear it.
"I love you both, but I need time to process everything on my own," she told them, hoping they believed she'd meant the sort of love you feel for a friend.
"We love you too, which is why we're worried," Peggy explained.
"But we also understand that you need time to yourself," Steve added.
They left her to blush beet red as being told they love her in solitude. She realized they most certainly meant it as a friend, but that didn't keep her heart from racing.
***
Over the next few weeks Victoria's lab was rebuilt. Peggy and Steve invited her to help with their training sessions while she waited to return to work. Although Vicky was confused about how she'd be able to help they quickly explained that she'd be taking the role of a rescued civilian so that they could practice hand-offs and shielding.
Victoria thoroughly enjoyed flying with Sam, and was surprisingly okay with being carried by Bucky, but her favorite was being close to either Captain as they shielded her. Her heart raced, and she blushed red as a tomato, but being so near them was absolutely wonderful.
After Vicky's lab was rebuilt she returned to her work, but decided to avoid explosives for the time being. She redirected her focus to spy gadgets. Scott stayed away for an additional week. Victoria also returned to her tradition of watching her friends train outside her window for another month. That's when her heart broke.
The four soldiers decided to take a water break while Vicky was watching them. Sam and Bucky went inside for something and the captains stayed outside chatting.
"Enjoying the view Vicky?" Sam asked with a cheeky grin.
"Bucky already used that line," she said looking his direction, and finding the sergeant standing behind him in the doorway.
"We wanted to check on our favorite scientist," Bucky told her as he approached.
Vicky chuckled. "I'm fine, though I'm not working with anything nearly as explosive."
"That's good to hear," Sam told her. "And I'm sad to hear that those rumors you mentioned weren't exaggerated."
"Sam kept me from stepping in," Bucky glared at Falcon.
"That was wise. You defending me would've likely made things worse."
"I know, but I can't stand bullies, especially when they target my friend," Bucky replied while clenching his fists.
"I know Buck, but you can't defend me like you did Steve," Victoria said, then smirked. "No matter how much I'd like you to."
Bucky's and Sam's eyes widened. Victoria looked out the window and her world shattered. Peggy and Steve were kissing.
Victoria looked back at her lab guests. "I told you."
***
She avoided everyone as much as possible for weeks. When she did talk to any of her friends she was stiff and almost formal. The only person she relaxed around was Doctor Strange when he decided to pay the Avengers' campus a visit one day.
"What's wrong?" he asked after closing the door to her lab.
"What do you mean?" she asked back.
"I'm not oblivious Victoria. I see how you are with Sam, Bucky, Steve, and Peggy. It verges on formality even though you've been friends with those men for years, and Peggy has called you a friend since she arrived," he answered. "Something has happened, and though Sam and Bucky seem to know what that something is, neither will tell me."
Victoria sighed. "I'm sure you noticed I have a bit of a crush on Steve and Peggy." He nodded. "Sam and Bucky came to tease me for watching them all train during my breaks. But then I looked out the window and saw Steve and Peggy kiss."
"I'm sorry Victoria." Doctor Strange walked over and gave her a hug. "I feel I should tell you that Steve and Peggy are worried about you."
"I want to lie and say I've been depressed over another failed experiment, but I don't know if I can lie to them," she explained.
"I understand. I know what heartbreak is like," he told her.
Vicky nodded, remembering how he spoke of Christine. "Do you have any advice?"
"Tell them a version of the truth," he held up a hand when she opened her mouth. "Tell them you're in pain, and why, but leave out them being the cause."
"What if they figure it out?" she asked skeptically.
"Then we all find out if they feel for you what you feel for them," he answered.
"I know you're right, but even if they do it would only complicate things further," Vicky lamented.
"How so?"
"My credibility is already being questioned while I'm simply friends with the soldiers. If I were to enter into a romantic relationship with either one, or both Captains then nobody would take me seriously unless I managed to complete the project that blew up my lab," she explained.
Stephen ran a hand through his hair. "Sam had mentioned you were having such problems, but it seems I underestimated things."
Victoria sighed in defeat. She wanted to change the topic and her mind flashed to the day Peggy first appeared. "Stephen, I think the version of you from Peggy's timeline knew who I was."
"He may have know his own version of you, or seen you through me. Remember what I told you about dreams?"
"It must've been the first one, because no one here calls me V."
Stephen's eyes widened. "I know which version of me it was. You were going to be his apprentice when the apocalypse started. It's no wonder he'd trust a version of his Victoria with Peggy's safety.
"Wow, your apprentice," she thought about it for a minute. "Do you have any idea if he's still alive?" Stephen somberly shook his head. "I see."
Suddenly the door burst open. It was Tony Stark. "Victoria Black?"
"Yes?" She was very confused.
"Is this your formula?" Stark showed her his phone. On the screen was the formula for the chemical weapon she was attempted to create.
"Yes, Dr. Stark. That is my formula, why?"
"So Lang was right. Those agents were trying to pass your research off as their own," Stark said as he put his phone away.
"What?"
"You didn't know?" Stark asked. Vicky shook her head. "It's like I said. A group of agents tried to pass this formula and the research behind it as their own, but Lang recognized it as yours and told me.
"He's right. I was working on that to be used on future threats on the scale of Ultron or Thanos,"she told him.
Stark nodded. "It's impressive work, so are the other weapons you've created."
Victoria was shocked to hear this. "Do you really mean that Dr. Stark?"
"Completely, and call me Tony," he winked. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have to talk to Phil about those agents. Keep working on that anti-Ultron thing V," he said as he sauntered out of her lab.
Stephen looked at Victoria. "I do believe that is one of your problems solved. Now what do you want to do about the other?"
"I think I should tell them the truth," she answered.
Just then the Captains entered her lab. "We just spoke with Tony," Steve said.
"He complimented my work, and might be solving my bully problem," Victoria told them.
"Bucky will be happy to hear that," Peggy commented.
"I'm sure he will," she smiled. "Though I know he was wanting to knock some of their heads together, so he may be a bit sad about no longer having a reason to."
"I'm sure the sergeant will be too happy about knowing you won't be getting bullied anymore to worry about that," Stephen said.
"He's right, we'll all be happier to see you smiling again," Peggy told her.
"As nice as that is to hear, I didn't know they'd stolen my research until Tony came in here. It was something else that upset me," she confessed.
Stephen leaned over and whispered in Vicky's ear. "You can do this, and I hope they surprise you." With that said he stood and left, his cloak giving a small wave as he walked out the door.
Steve and Peggy watched him leave then looked at Victoria. "Why did he leave?" Steve asked.
"Because he already knows what's been bothering me," she answered.
"He does?"
"So do Bucky and Sam," she added.
"Did we do something wrong to warrant not being told?" Peggy asked.
"Not exactly. Not knowingly. I certainly made sure that you didn't know," she answered.
"What are you trying to say Vicky?" Steve asked. "Did Peggy and I upset you?"
"Upset is a bit of and understatement," she answered. "A couple weeks ago I saw you kiss, and it broke my heart. Even though I'd never given any indication to either of you that I have feeling for you both, and I never would for a number of reasons, it still hurt. Seeing you choose each other like I always knew you would hurt more than I could've expected. Bucky and Sam had come to my lab to tease me about my crush on you both when we all saw you kiss, that's how they already knew. Stephen noticed my change in behavior and insisted I tell him what's wrong," she explained.
"Oh, Victoria," Peggy not sounded broken hearted.
"I'm not mad at either of you," Victoria assured them. "I just needed time to process my heartbreak. I'm honestly happy that you have each other. I'll be fine eventually, it'll just sting for a bit."
"Vicky, I really wish you'd told us sooner," Steve said as he stepped closer. "We could've saved you from so much pain."
"How? By breaking my heart sooner?" she responded, no longer able to hold back tears. "And if by some miracle one or both of you feels the same for me as you do for each other, a romantic relationship would've only made my bullying worse, and then Bucky really would've knocked some heads, probably with help from Sam. But you two are so impossibly far out of my league that worrying about Sam and Bucky knocking heads isn't necessary."
Steve and Peggy shared a sad look before returning their attention to Victoria. "What he meant was that we could've saved you from the pain of heartbreak," Peggy explained as she placed a hand on Victoria's shoulder.
"She's right Vicky. We both love you, but we were also aware of the problem with the other agents, and didn't wish to cause you more trouble. We've been trying to get Tony to come see your work by showing him what you've already created," Steve told her.
"We wanted to help prove to those agents that you deserve your place here in this lab," Peggy said. "If we'd known that everyone's feelings were mutual we would've told you how we feel and then personally saw to you meeting Tony."
"I'm thrilled that you love me. That you both do, because I couldn't possibly split you up," Victoria smiled. "Your plan to help could've back fired, but let's ignore that."
Peggy enveloped her in a warm embrace. "Of course we both lover you darling."
Steve came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her as well. "We couldn't help falling for you."
"Finally!" Sam exclaimed from the door. "Bucky, you owe me $50," he shouted behind him.
The three unfolded from their embrace, but the Captains each kept a hand on her hips. Bucky stepped into the lab and smiled. "About damn time."
"All this over a hug?" Victoria asked.
"I was standing here long enough to know it wasn't just a hug, but you're right. It's not like they kissed you yet."
"I'm not paying until they kiss," Bucky joked.
"Well, if that's the case, the I suppose I'd better do this." Peggy drew Victoria towards her with the hand on her hip and cupper the scientist's lovely face with the other before lovingly kissing the woman that had been her anchor in this timeline. Peggy's brilliant red lips met Victoria's unpainted lips in a joyous and passionate kiss. Victoria place a hand on Peggy's hip and they both closed their eyes to fully enjoy the pleasure of finally kissing one another.
When they parted Steve drew Victoria to him. "And this," he said as he too cupped her face. Steve kissed her as he'd wanted to for so long. He'd always found Vicky attractive, but life as an Avenger so often got in the way, and he fearing ruining their friendship. Now, however, he could, and was kissing the woman he'd felt drawn to for years, and she was returning the kiss with the same yearnings. To finally have a relationship with not just one, but both women that had captured his heart made him feel like the luckiest man alive.
When they parted Victoria was breathless, and nearly dazed by what had transpired, but she couldn't be happier. The Captains she so loved were in love with her as well. They wouldn't have to worry about what the other agents would say about their relationship thanks to Scott and Tony. Victoria couldn't possibly ask for anything more.