Papers were scattered about everywhere. Natasha couldn't look at them anymore, she had to get away, think about something other than how Rina was out there somewhere with her crazy ex-husband and his probably equally crazy son. She got up off the floor, she wasn't making any progress on finding the location where Alexi was hiding out.

She made her way to the kitchen, sighing as she swung open the heavy door. She grabbed the bread and peanut butter from the pantry. Peanut butter sandwiches had become her only source of substance because she was always to busy searching for Rina to make anything more. She was spreading the peanut butter on the slice of bread when she heard footsteps enter the kitchen. She didn't look up, only continued making her sandwich. She felt a metal hand take the knife from her, she looked up and saw two sad blue eyes staring back at her,

"Come on, you can't live off of peanut butter sandwiches" he said with a slight smile before sadly continuing, "she wouldn't want you to"

She scoffed,

"No if she were here, we'd be eating chocolate" she half joked but it didn't close the hole in her heart that threatened to tear her apart.

He set the knife down and wrapped his arms around the red head. She buried her head in his chest, they'd hardly seen each other, she had locked herself in the office to work on finding where they had taken Rina while he searched the as many bases as they could find, talking to people, seeing if anyone had seen the small, blonde girl. Neither had much luck in the past 6 months.

"Oh my god, I've missed you" she murmured into his chest as they stood in the kitchen, holding each other tightly as if they stooped they would fall apart.

She felt his body shake as he laughed and ruffled her hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head,

"I missed you too, Natalia"

"I just can't believe she's gone" she whispered

"I know, I know the Tower feels so empty without her here" he admitted softly

"I just hope she's ok, it's the not knowing that's killing me, we haven't heard anything. Sometimes I wish that we would know if she was... if she's..." her voice finally cracked as she imagined the possibilities.

He held the back of her neck and pulled her even closer,

"Hey, hey" He said comfortingly, "if she was, we'd know but she's tough, tougher than most so if anyone can get through this it's her"

They fell into a deep silence, the only sound was their hearts beating and they didn't even hear the footsteps approaching the kitchen,

"Jesus, get a room you two" Sam remarked as he opened the fridge.

Bucky tried to pull away from the hug, not sure what else to do because while they weren't shy about their affection for each other, the hadn't put a label on their relationship yet. But to his surprise Natasha held on, her arms tightening around his waist.

"Wilson" She grumbled threateningly

"Chill out, Red. We all know" he said, a box of cereal in his hand

At that moment Steve walked into the kitchen, oblivious to what was going on. Sam stopped him and said,

"Come on, man back me up. Tell Red it's not a big deal that her and metal arm dig each other"

Steve's eyes widened at Sam's blunt comment. He cleared his throat,

"Uh... well we all noticed it and uh..." he stuttered unsure what else to say.

"We all approve" Wanda finished for him walking into the kitchen from where she was eavesdropping.

The brunette took a bowl from the cabinet and took the cereal from Sam to pour some for herself.

At some point during this conversation Natasha had released James her death-grip hug and was now not sure what to do.

Taking a big bite of cereal, Wanda waves her spoon in the air and with her mouth full says,

"You know for spies, you did not hide this very well"

Sam nodded while Steve stared at his feet, still unsure of what to do.

"We weren't trying to hide anything, we just wanted to take it slow. Find out if we still clicked" Bucky argued

"And? What's the verdict? I've been dying to know" Wanda said, leaning on the counter watching them as if they were her favorite tv show.

Natasha looked at him and they both smiled slightly, she leaned into him a bit and said,

"We still do"

Sam let out a shout of celebration,

"Damn right you do! Stark owes me $20!"

Natasha tilted her head and moved to lean over the counter to glare at Sam,

"Stark owes you what now?"

Sam gulped and looked away,

"We may have made a bet" he answered quietly

She simply continued glared at him

"Rina and I bet y'all would tell us before the end of the year, Stark said longer. Could you blame us, you basically moved in together!"

She nodded, she couldn't argue with him on that point so she turned her fiery gaze on Steve,

"Did you have any part in this?"

The blond shook his head,

"I didn't want any part in it"

She was satisfied with his answer, for now.

Peter walked into the kitchen, a stack of books in his arms. He looked startled to see all of them in the kitchen,

"Oh sorry, I was on my way to Rina's room" he shifted the books in his arms, "I got her more astronomy books for when she gets back. I know how much she likes the stars."

Natasha smiled sadly at him,

"Good thinking, baby spider. I'm sure she'll love them"

The boy nodded and continued on his way. Every Friday he went into town to get something for Rina. So far there was a pile of astronomy books, a few chocolate bars, various bottles of nail polish and a box of Star Wars Legos sitting in front of Ekaterina's door. Natasha had to step around it every time she went to her room and every time it broke her heart because she didn't know when her little girl was coming back.

She watched him as he left and when he was out of sight she sighed and turned, taking in all of their faces, they all seemed happy, the happiest they had all been in six months. The happiest they have been since a certain curly haired girl was stolen out of there lives. Natasha felt her face fall and her attitude shift. Wanda was the first to notice it.

She leaned across the counter and took the red head's hand,

"Hey, we'll get her back. They can't get past us for ever"

The red head was barely listening, her friend's words triggered something in her memory, "past".

"Oh my god" she whispered before running out of the kitchen. It was something Rina had told her one of their first days together, the girl had said Hydra had been in operation in Russia for forever. She shuffled through the blueprints of different bases, she tossed them all aside until she came to the map she was looking for. If she was right, it would be one of the only bases they hadn't investigated yet, mainly because she thought it didn't exist anymore.

She took the piece of paper and made her way back to the kitchen,

"I think I know where they are" she said moving one of Rina's astronomy books and laying the map of Russia on the kitchen counter.

"Where?" James asked stepping forward to look at the map.

She looked up at him, not wanting to admit the truth. She took a shaky breath,

"Where it all started"

*****

Rina laughed as she walked with Maxim,

"That's all I can remember" she said

The boy pouted and ran in front of her, blocking her path,

"What about another constellation? Can you remember anymore about those?" He begged her with a smile

She tapped a finger on her cheek, pretending to be deep in thought,

"Hmm... do you want to know more about the constellation Draco?" She teased

He practically jumped up and down in excitement,

"Yes! Yes, you know that's my favorite one"

She laughed, he still loved the stars as much as she remembered. Ever since he had found a book on constellations when they were 6, the stars were all he could talk about. The constellation Draco instantly became his favorite because it looks like a dragon. The book only had a few facts and pictures on each constellation so Rina had made it her mission while she was in New York to learn as much about them as possible so if she ever saw Maxim again she could tell him all she knew. She knew he'd want to study the stars if they weren't stuck here. She always thought he'd be great at it, she always promised him that once they got out she would make sure that he would go to college so he would be able to visit the stars and he in turned promised to name a constellation after her.

She was on her way to her final test with Alexi when the boy had caught up with her, she shook her head,

"You better go before you're father catches you"

"Awww... fine but you better tell me when you get back. Just don't kill yourself over these tests! I need you to tell me more about the stars!" he shouted

She continued to walk and leave him behind. She turned around and gave a overdramatic salute,

"The stars belong to you, my friend"

She made her way, alone, to her meeting place. She pushed open the heavy basement door and saw Alexi and three doctors in lab coats near an operating table and other various medical equipment.

"Sir, what is my test today?" She asked

The man turned around and smiled when he saw her,

"Ah.. Ekaterina! No tests today the Superiors and I have decided that you are ready to become the Asset"

Her body froze.

"Come in, Come in my little ballerina!" He said waving her in.

She thought she had more time. She thought that the Avengers would find her. She thought her mama and papa would save her before she became a monster for Hydra. Her mind was racing but she kept a smile on her face, she knew what she had to do,

"What an honor this is" She said through gritted teeth

Alexi smiled,

"It is. You will be the greatest Asset Hydra has ever created" he said as he guided her to the operating table. He smiled as she laid down and the doctors secured the straps around her middle, legs and arms.

He continued to speak to her and the doctors bustled around the room collecting syringes and vials full of strange looking dark purple liquid ,

"Your lines of right and wrong won't exist anymore. You will be Hydra's judge, jury and executioner. The weapon that hands out the sentence"

She stared at him as he stood above her, silent tears beginning to roll from her eyes. He smiled as he wiped them away before cupping his hand around her cheek with a gentleness she had never seen from him,

"You'll be the last thing they'll ever see" was the last thing he said as one of the doctors pressed a syringe into her arm and everything went black.

Ok so we had a cute moment in the Tower! They all know about our favorite ship now!! But I had to add a little but of Rina in there! Do you remember my post about the sad part? We'll get ready for it in the next few chapters!! Anyways, have a great day/night!
Xo,
Renee