**The picture is what Tony sends later in chapter!**

"Lab's all set up boss." Maria says as she makes her way toward Tony, while Nat gets Clint moving to the lab.

"Uh, actually he's the boss." He says pointing to Steve making me roll my eyes. "I just pay for everything, design everything, and make everyone look cooler." I breath a laugh knowing it's kinda true.

"What's the word on Strucker?" He asks as we make our way into the tower, as Hill pulls up the info on a tablet.

"NATO's got him."

"And the two enhanced?" I ask curious if we'll be seeing those two again, she looks to me quickly before showing us a clip.

"Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Twins, orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building." I feel a twinge of sadness knowing how it is to lose everything in an instant.

"Their abilities?"

"He's got increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis. Her thing is neural electric interfacing, telekinesis, and mental manipulation." Great. Two kids that can rival Steve and I... I laugh slightly when Steve looks between us funny.

"He's fast and she's weird." I say gently patting his arm, and he nods like he understands.

"Well, they're going to show up again." He says as we make it to the elevator that accesses our floor of the tower.

"Agreed. The file says they volunteered for Strucker's experiments. It's nuts." Hill says and I shake my head knowing where Steve will take that.

"Right. What kind of monster would let a German scientist experiment on them to protect their country?" I watch as Hill recognizes her poor word choice but deflects it anyways.

"We aren't at war Captain."

"They are."

And with that Steve hits the button taking us to our private living space. The elevator is plunged into silence for a bit before Steve suddenly pulls me close, kissing me sweetly.

"What was that for?" I say after he breaks away, a dumb smile present on both our faces.

"I'm just glad to have that all over with. And to finally be home." He says as we stop outside James' room, peeking in to see him sound asleep.

"You think he'd be wide awake waiting for us to be home."

I giggle at the slight disappointment in Steve's voice as we head back to our room to change out of our grimy uniforms. Changing into comfortable clothing, the room lapses into silence, and I can't help but feel the slight tension in the air for some reason.

"I have a lead on Bucky." Steve says quickly, making my hands freeze as they pull down my sweater.

"You do? Are you going after it? How do you know it won't be a cold lead?" I say turning to face the suddenly saddened man.

"I'm not one hundred percent Clara. You know there's no way to guarantee these things." His words hang in a tense air, as I decide whether or not to voice my opposition. So this was his reason for unease.

"I'll take Sam with me, we'll be back before the party—"

"If you haven't noticed, your son is growing at an alarming rate! He could be talking or taking his first step any day now, and you want to miss that for some lead that might not be what you think it is?"

My anger gets the best of me, as I turn to look at Steve with frustration clear in my eyes, glad our son doesn't share the same room. We just got home, and he wants to go run off again?

"O-Of course I don't want to miss that, but—" I think my anger catches the poor man off guard causing him to stutter slightly.

"But nothing Steve! You promised me, do you remember? Always and forever. Before he was born you told me, we'd be the priority. When did that change?" A breath of silence, and I no longer hold back.

"When did going on these empty trails, become a priority over watching your son grow, something you won't be able to get back?!" I watch as the frustration grows on the face of the ever-calm Captain, but my worry is quickly pushed aside.

"He's my brother Clara, I have to help him. Surely that's something you understand." This makes my blood boil, knowing I sacrificed helping my brother to help Steve in Washington.

"I understand that. More than you think. But don't pull that on me, because I sacrificed helping my brother save his girlfriend, save himself, to help with those damned Helicarriers!"

"That was your decision Clara, you could've easily went back to Malibu..."

"That's not the point Steve! I– just forget it."

I begin to walk away, no longer taking all of this "I'll be better once we find him.." excuses he keeps intending to make. He promised before our family even started to not go running off at the mention of "Bucky".

"Clara. Please..." My arm is suddenly grabbed and I'm spinning, trapped in Steve's strong embrace.

Before I can utter an angry response, his lips are upon mine, taking me by surprise. I begin to melt into him, before I remember what this is all about and pull away.

"You can't just kiss me and think it'll fix everything." I say looking at him sadly.

"I know. I just—" I turn from him, throwing my hand up not wanting to hear more excuses.

"Just go. Steve." My anger has slowly drained away, replaced with hurt instead.

"Clara..."

"Go. I just hope all of this is worth it." Without turning to look at him, I walk away, leaving a gaping hole in my chest.

With my head held high, I enter James' room, and only once the door shuts do I let the tears begin to well. I didn't think it would bother me this much, but we still don't know the extent of James' chemical make up. We don't know if he's going to keep growing so quickly, or if the serum genes will finally slow.

I'm lost in my own world, caressing the soft cheeks of my son, before cradling him in my arms, that I miss the door opening behind me.

"Clare?" At Tony's voice I quickly wipe the tears before he can see, giving my brother a small smile.

"Hi Tony." He raises a brow, but shuts the door and stops beside me, admiring his nephew.

"What happened Clara? I could hear you and, well you, arguing with Steve. JARVIS said he's left the tower?" I simply sigh, knowing there's no way to hide this from my brother.

"He supposedly found a lead on Bucky. I was upset because that's not a priority right now when we still don't know our son's fate, and he decided to use the brother card on me." Tony's eyes widen in realization of what must've been said, but chooses to stay quiet.

"It was just a mess, and so I told him to leave. Maybe once he realizes his friend doesn't want to be found, he'll listen. At least for a little while." I run my hand through my hair, a Stark nervous habit.

"Well, I guess I should've known Spangles wasn't going to give up his chance at being hero." Tony scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Don't worry sister. One way or another, he'll pull his head out. He loves you too much, he wouldn't jeopardize that."

"Thanks Anthony." I lay my head on his shoulder, enjoying the small moment, until a yawn breaks it.

"Get some sleep Clare. Everything will be alright."

He kisses me on the forehead, before he leaves and I sit with James in the rocking chair before exhaustion takes over and I'm quickly falling into my dreams, missing Tony pausing at the door.

~Steve's P.O.V.~

Numbly I leave our room, heading back to my supply room to get ready to leave on this lead, still not knowing if I've made the right choice. Clara is upset, that much was obvious. She has a good point, we still don't know the affects of my altered genes on our son, but if Bucky's this close...I can't possibly leave him now.

I meet up with Sam downstairs, seeing as he has the less obvious car, it'd be better so we don't run the risk of Bucky fleeing at the sight of a SHIELD car. We punch in the coordinates of the last known location when suddenly my phone beeps.

From: Stark
Don't screw this up.

Is the only caption I get to a photo that makes my heart melt and ache at the same time. It's Clara, fast asleep in the rocking chair in the nursery with James held close.

"What is it man?" I don't realize how long I've been looking at the message until Sam breaks me from my reverie.

"It's a message from Stark. I left on bad terms with Clara, and I think this is his gentle, yet ominous reminder." I show Sam the message, and he too smiles softly at the picture before seeing the caption.

"Yikes man. Well, let's get this done and over with so you can go make amends."

As he drives off, I'm left with my thoughts, wondering just how I can make amends if this turns cold, we come back empty handed, and I've missed some milestone of my son growing up...I've made a mess this time..

**I'm alive!! Sorry for the long chapter, but I hope you enjoy the drama!!**