(And a welcome back to you, sweet readers!)

*Three Years Later*

My heart is beating about as fast as I'm spinning the two rings around my finger. I stare out the jet windows at the changing landscape, so different from where I just was. I pause and look down at the rings with nostalgia staining my tongue. A smile curves my lips up when I fiddle with the bottom shining silver band with the little A on it and then the little spider on the other. Mercy whines quietly and sits up, setting her big head on my knee. A smile pulls at my lips as I reach out and massage her soft ear.

"You need to calm down. Even I can hear your heartbeat." Natasha tells me calmly as she flies. I wiggle in the chair next to her and she turns on autopilot, then turns to face me. A moment passes with her searching jade eyes on mine before I sigh.

"It's been three months," I tell her green eyes as she suppresses a smile.

"I've been gone longer. This was your chance to stretch your legs, Jo, and you did extremely well." She reassures me and the sincerity coming off her is so sweet it makes me feel bad. "What's bothering you?" Natasha pushes slightly, knowing I'm not telling her something. My eyes roll.

"Are you forgetting I didn't exactly have permission to leave? And how adamant everyone was that I shouldn't have?" She raises an eyebrow.

"Everyone?" She repeats and I deflate slightly in surrender. She was on my side, mostly. "You're over eighteen and legally allowed to make your own decisions. The team has no hold on you, Jo." I fix her with an incredulous glare and her lips twitch. "Other than affection." Sighing, I press my lips together.

"Right. And that has no hold on me." I sass and her lips quirk up further. "This is the longest I've been away from everyone since we met." I preface and her head cocks slightly.

"And you're afraid they've adopted another wayward orphan with a bad attitude?" She poses and I snort.

"No. Just...I don't know how they're going to react. You're not worried they'll be pissed at you for finding me and not dragging me back?"

Natasha shakes her head. "You're overthinking this. It's something you had to do. I'm sure they'll have seen that by now. Besides, they won't be mad at me for looking after you."

"Right, because that's what we were doing as we snuck in and out of Hydra bases. I was just your charge." I respond with attitude. Natasha leans back in her chair and flicks out imaginary dirt from under her fingernails. Her eyes don't waver from mine.

"I'm not about to tell them what we were doing. I'll let them think what they assume. Thought I'd taught you that already." She combats quietly and that's when I know she's done with the conversation unless I bring new information to the table.

"I don't like being unsure of where I stand with the team." With my family. Her eyes consider me before she nods, pats my knee, and turns back to the windows.

"Well, we're going to find out soon." We look out the front and I see the facility down below us as Natasha lowers the jet. My stomach becomes more knotted. Three months ago, I decided I wanted to see how I'd fare without the team at my back. Figure out what I wanted, what I could do, who I wanted to be. Natasha endorsed this and most everyone else objected, so I made the decision to slip out in the middle of the night. With Mercy. On one of the team's jets. It took Natasha a week to find me and she stuck by my side for the duration. Three months of working with Wanda and Vision in the European sect of the Avengers ensued and I learned a lot. But I missed the rest of my family. "You're projecting." Natasha reminds me with a soft smile and I quickly reign in my emotions. I'm thankful Nat and Mercy stayed with me, or else the world might've swallowed me. Nat's hand grabs mine as the jet shivers with the landing before we both stand. "It'll be fine." She assures me and pulls the lever for the door. The three of us walk over to the door as it opens and I squeeze Natasha's hand a little harder.

The breeze hits me first, full of freshness and the familiarity of American air. The facility comes into view as the ramp lowers and my grip on Nat lessens. This is home. The feeling is cemented as the ramp hits the grass and I spy the small group of people making their way towards it. Mercy is the first one out and I grin at the sight of her bounding along. Taking a deep breath, I walk down the door with Natasha beside me. Tony is the first person that comes into sight and my grin comes easy. Messy black curls, loose sweatpants, and black tank-top with his very own little nightlight shining out the middle. He hasn't changed a bit. Still, there's an awkwardness in the air as the four men come to a stop at the same time Nat and I do. My eyes search their faces desperately for an inkling of how this is going to go, leaving their minds to themselves for now.

"So," Tony starts and I rake my eyes away from Steve's unfathomable blues to his dark amber. Tony steps forward and crosses his arms. "you sneak out in the middle of the night, steal a jet, fly to Europe, and stay for three months just, you know, because?" He questions and raises his black brows at me. I take a deep breath.

"It was something I had to do, Tony." My decision was made and I'm not about to apologize for it now. He nods slowly before breaking into a grin.

"Thank god you learned something from me, Josie. Think I deserve a hug now, huh?" He asks and I perk up at the offer, grinning and stepping forward into open arms. He squeezes me tight and I return the ardor, relishing the encapsulation of my mind with his. Tony's mind and emotions feel as familiar to me as my own. He fluffs my hair before pulling back and really letting his amber eyes look me over.

"Alright, no new visible scars. That's good." I smile and push his hands gently off my face. "Glad the prodigal has returned, all your parents missed you." His eyes twinkle with joy as he pecks my forehead.

"Is Pepper good?" I ask him and wring my hands together nervously. She'd been on my side and I know that's why Tony didn't fly over to find me. Tony's grin widens inexplicably.

"She's perfect. Tired of dealing with me, but sticking in there like a champ." He winks at me and I smile tentatively back. I'm still aware of the others just behind Tony. I'm tempted to ask about Peter, but don't get the chance to just yet.

"And the late uncle? He missed you just as much." Sam steps around Tony and heaves me into his arms. A burst of laughter leaves my lungs at his gap-toothed smile and warm embrace.

"We've known each other for like two years, Sam." I struggle to get out since he's squeezing me like a boa constrictor. He releases me and I land back on my feet with a wide grin on my face.

"Whatever. Stark is right, though. You look good, Jo." I nod to him in thanks. A throat clears and I sidestep Sam to reveal Bucky with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, so why don't the rest of us get a hug?" He questions and I laugh softly, jogging over to him and tossing my arms around his neck. His arms snake around my waist as he lifts me up, that coffee and metal smell embracing me just as strongly. Emotions grip my throat and goddamn do I not want to cry. "Glad to see you made it in one piece, kiddo." He murmurs and elicits another laugh from me. He sets me down and I knock lightly on his new left arm.

"Can't say the same for you, Bucky." I tease as his blue eyes shine happily. "Seems the Wakandans have claimed you as their own with this." Bucky rolls his eyes.

"When the government starts to wonder why a previous Russian asset is on the Avengers, they tend to get nervous about the Russian hardware. By the way, thanks for waiting until I got back to leave." He pokes at me accusingly and now my eyes roll.

"Was it beautiful?" I can't help but ask. Ever since hearing about Wakanda I wanted to go there, wanted to see it. Of course, when Bucky took leave to hide out there until the news died down, I wasn't allowed to go.

"Breathtaking." He answers and humor once again leaks into his eyes. "Then when I came back, I found these idiots waiting for me. Can't believe you left me with this dumbass." He shoves Sam who nearly falls over. "Already had one to look after." Bucky teases and my nerves get to me when he mentions the only man left.

"Well, did you keep that best friend of yours out of trouble?" My voice breaks a bit on the question. Steve had been the person I'd worried the most about. We'd talked a few times over the phone while I was gone, but I never knew if he'd forgiven me for running. Again. Bucky's expression warns me and I brace myself for any reaction.

"See for yourself," Steve says and I peek around Bucky's hulking frame to the stubborn blonde. Mercy has already found him and her butt is wiggling wildly as he pats her head affectionately. He straightens and holds his hands out to the side for inspection. Swallowing my emotions, I look him up and down.

"Well, doesn't look like any teenagers have kicked you in the jewels lately, so I'd say you're alright," I tell him and he smiles, but it's not full.

"You look good. Healthy." He tells me diplomatically and my fingers go back to spinning the rings on my finger.

"Yeah, I am. I'm really good, Steve. Promise." I respond and forcibly keep my mind from his. Whether because I want to keep my hurt from him or because I'm afraid, I don't know.

He nods slowly. "Well, come here." Steve beckons and I'm quick to accept the offer. We both step forward into a gentle embrace as I fight tears. "I uh, I missed you," I whisper into his light blue shirt and feel him sigh and arms tighten.

"That happens after three months." He responds before we both release and clear our throats. "So, how was it?" Steve questions and I glance at Natasha as she works her way over embrace by embrace.

"It was great. Beautiful. Hard." I chuckle and Steve spares a moment to embrace Natasha. Bucky takes this moment to sneak over to me and wrap his left arm around my shoulders, tickling my cheek playfully with his fingers. My fingers lift to explore the plains of his new black and gold arm.

"We want to know everything. The sights, the sounds, how Tasha looks when she first wakes up in the morning." He earns a slap to the shoulder for that, but I laugh anyway.

"Uh, yeah and why she was the only one who was invited," Sam adds while Steve remains noticeably silent.

"She breathtakingly gorgeous at all times, of course. And she crashed my party. Wasn't invited." I respond, craning my neck to wink at Tasha as we walk to the building. "I want to hear about what you all have been doing." My eyes scan the building comfortably before just looking between the men.

"And where a certain young Spiderman might be?" Tony adds and heat brushes my cheeks at the mention.

"No. I'm...sure he has better things to do." I'm quiet and stare down at the floor as we make our way to the gathering room. I settle onto the middle cushion of the couch and smirk as Bucky and Tony squeeze beside me. Sam sits next to Bucky and the two immediately start throwing elbows. Steve seems uncharacteristically fine sitting away from me in the chair to the right. Nat takes the love seat to the left. Mercy sits at my feet, eyeing my lap.

"Peter's with his aunt right now. He's been...a little down since you left." Steve tells me with his steady blue eyes trained on me.

"And he's not the only one if you haven't noticed," Bucky mutters in my ear but my smile is weak. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt Peter. Or Steve.

"You've been looking after him, haven't you?" My question goes to Tony and he sighs softly.

"As best I can, kid. You threw him for a loop the same as the rest of us when you left." He replies and my stomach roils with regret.

"Especially when he was one of the most willing to go with you," Steve adds and I shoot him a knowing look.

"Are you going to be upset with me forever now? It was something I had to do by myself. Yes, Natasha found me and stayed with me, but she let me do what I needed to on my own. Would you have? Any of you?" I cross my arms and ask, dark eyes darting across the line of men.

"Not all of us were against you going. Just the method." Sam reminds me. He'd been on my side too and the readiest to let me back into his graces after I left. Pretty sure there were multiple times we'd facetime and the other soldiers would listen in as well.

"Anyway, obviously we did let you because none of us came after you." Steve defends and Natasha tsks.

"Because I told you not to." Steve looks a little betrayed by Nat, but she only cements my point. I run a hand through my hair and stand.

"I'm going to unpack before everything gets gross. I'll be right back." Tony and Bucky groan while Steve stares at his hands. "I'll be right back! Promise." I stumble over them and Mercy follows me out into the hall. Mercy and I walk happily down the halls, absorbing the familiar comfort they bring. "You happy to be back again, Mer?" I ask her loping form and her little ears perk up at the question. "Thought so." We slip into my room and I take a deep breath. Smells like home; like paper, dog, and a little burning from lightning accidents. Along with the fresh and clean scent of clean sheets and pillow shams.

My bags are already here; two duffel bags that I did my best to separate clean and dirty clothes between. I lift both onto my bed and giggle when Mercy hops up too. She lays down on the bed with a heavy sigh and I can't say I don't understand. "We'll have to readjust to this time zone, Mer. It'll be a bitch." I grimace at the thought and pour her a little water before opening both duffel bags. Nearly everything gets poured into the laundry bin in the corner of my room. Most of the other bag was cleaned in France, so those go back into their respective drawers. I'm pleased when I find my journals at the bottom of this bag. Nearly forgot I'd put them there. Soft knocking calls my attention to the door and my hand waves up to turn the lights on.

"Thought you might need some help," Steve suggests and steps in the room with hands gently perched on his pockets and blue eyes glimmering with hopeful earnestness. I press my lips together and continue unpacking my journals onto the bed.

"Sure you're not here to keep chastising me about a decision that's already been made?" I ask and turn towards him, putting a hand on my hip. A heavy breath leaves him and I turn away. Suitcases now empty, I tuck the empty bags under my bed before turning back to face him.

"Am I wrong to be upset that you snuck out, stole a jet, and flew yourself to Europe? Is that really unreasonable?" Steve asks and at least this time he isn't holding in his emotions. Hurt, concern, and relief roll off him as if he's a little sun.

"No, it's not, but at least just fucking say it instead of being pissy and passive aggressive!" I shoot back before taking a deep breath to steady myself. My feet carry me closer to him and I sit on the couch. Steve remains standing with crossed arms. "Look. I'm twenty-one and before this trip, I had no clue what I wanted from my life." I admit and finally, he settles down next to me. "I knew I had abilities, amazing abilities, but I wasn't sure what I wanted from them or what the world expected from me. The Hydra plane going down in the Hudson, the storms I caused, every mistake I made was blasted over television with questions I didn't have a clue how to answer. I couldn't move without the press questioning why. Couldn't even breathe." I explain.

I take a calming breath before continuing, "I needed the space to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. Now, I have at least an idea." No longer judgmental blue eyes stay on mine as he listens closely, brows furrowed in that familiar way I missed. "When I was over there, I got to mess up on my own. I got to see what happens when I screw up and no one is there to rescue me, what happens if I don't find a way to correct that mistake, and why, despite my errors, I keep going out there. And that was really good for me. I never would've learned that if I was always safe in the warm embrace of the team." Begrudgingly, he nods. "I would've rather everyone agreed on my leaving before I left, but you all made it perfectly clear that was never going to happen."

"We just wanted you safe and protected." He objects and I press a fist to the palm of my hand.

"But that's not always possible. We both know that. And it's certainly not likely when you're a part of this team like you are. And like I hope to, permanently, be." Light sparks in his blue eyes when I mention that.

"You want to be a part of the team? Officially?" He asks and now one eyebrow raises.

"That's what I just said," I affirm and a smile pulls at the corners of his lips. "Only if you let this go, though." He hums and thinks on this a moment.

"You'll have to earn it. And our trust back." Steve poses and I stand, heading over to the journals on my bed.

"Well, maybe this will help my case." My hands claim a dark blue journal and walk back over, pushing it into his hands. He takes it with a questioning glance at me. "I know we didn't talk much with both our schedules, and the time difference, and you being pissed, but there were so many things I wanted to tell you about or wished you could see. So...I wrote them down. Or drew them, so I could show you when I got back." Steve's eyebrows are high on his forehead as he opens the sketchbook to the first page. "I never forgot about you, Steve."

"This is for me?" He questions quietly, fingers tracing the simple city skyline I drew from Nat and I's apartment. England is the main station for the European sector, so that was our first stop.

"Well, yeah," I tell him and scoot a little closer so I can better see what he's seeing. "I got homesick a lot and this is how I dealt with it." My shoulders lift and fall as he flips through a couple of pages.

"Homesick, huh? Thought you weren't coming back at times." He teases, but I feel the hint of sincerity floating off him. My nose wrinkles at the thought.

"Of course, I was coming back. Even if I didn't come back to this place, I would've come back to the team." I tell him, absolute sincerity coming off me in waves. Steve hesitates and my eyes widen. "Steve, I know I don't say it much but you know this is my family. Surprised I have to tell you that." He sighs and nods, shutting the little book.

"Guess it's part of the whole 'let you go' process, right?" He poses with a self-deprecating smile. My hand reflexively finds his to better understand where he's coming from. His mind blooms in mine like a flower. Questions he has yet to ask me float through his mind and I clasp onto one.

"You were worried I'd decide not to be part of the team," I ask, but my words form a statement. Resigned melancholy tints his mind and I dislike the blue feeling in his head. I release his hand and run a hand through my shoulder-blade length curls. "Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. I do if you'll allow me. But no matter my choice, I'll always make time for you. And the others." I sway into him playfully to lighten the mood. "Cheer up, Captain Dad." He smiles at that, as I knew he would, and I stand. "Now you've got to get out. I need a shower desperately and I know Natasha missed you as much as I did." My hands wave him out and he stands, the blue book I gave him clasped tightly in his hands.

"Alright, alright, I'm out." Steve relents but spares a moment to knuckle under my chin. "Proud of you." My heart soars and I spare another moment to wrap my arms around him.

"Thank you," I tell him and immediately retreat to the bathroom when we release. Afterward, I dig through the pockets of my discarded jeans for my old red and gold phone. Still chugging along, the loyal thing. A shit-ton of notifications from my many social media accounts pops up (I'm the most popular Avenger, much to Tony's chagrin) but only one makes me feel like butterflies are slowly eating my stomach. I'd posted a picture from the air to announce my arrival back in America and the text is of that with a few words.

"Uh hey. So, you're back at the facility?" My eyes stare at Peter's name with mixed emotions. Towel tucked under my arms, I text him back carefully.

"Yeah, home right now." I snap a picture of Mercy laid out on the bed and send it to him. I've changed into loose sweatpants and a billowy tank by the time he answers.

"That's great, I'm sure everyone is really happy to see you." Indecisiveness runs through me as my thumbs hover over the keyboard. Peter texts me again before I can text back. "Would it be okay if I came to see you?" My heart squeezes at the words on the screen.

"Of course, you can come see me. You're always welcome here." I tell him nervously. After all, I left him too that night. And after our fight. "You don't have to, of course. I know you're probably busy and stuff." I send and instantly regret it. That sounds stupid.

"Yeah, yeah, really busy. For sure. But I still want to see you." He responds and my cheeks turn warm.

"No objections here," I answer and tuck my phone in my pocket.

A/N

OH MY GOODNESS! FINALLY, THE SEQUEL IS HERE! I know you all have waited a while and I apologize for that. I just really wanted this to be perfect and that took time. I hope you all enjoy this and think it's as good, if not better, than the first. Thank you for your patience and devotion. Have fun reading! :) And please, tell me what you think along the way!