Bree:

Alyssa:

Stark Guest House

After Bucky and Alec's fall from the train, spurring the loss of Bree and Steve's best friends, and the love of Bree's life in the form of Bucky, who had just proposed to her the night before, the journey back to base was a blur of grief and disbelief for Bree and Steve. They moved mechanically, their minds still reeling from the devastating loss they had just experienced.

But the most difficult task still lay ahead; telling Alec's now seven-year-old daughter Alyssa that her father would never come home.

As they approached the guest home where Alyssa had been watched by Howard and Jarvis, Bree's steps faltered, her resolve crumbling. She paused on the doorstep, her hand trembling as she reached for the knocker. Steve placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

Bree looked to Steve, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. "How do we do this, Steve? How do we tell her?"

Steve placed a comforting hand on his sister's shoulder, his own voice thick with emotion. "Together, Bree. We'll do it together."

Bree knew that she wouldn't be able to tell Alyssa, her goddaughter, that both her father and her godfather had died. She needed her brother's support to get through this.

Just as Bree was about to knock, the door swung open, revealing Howard's concerned face. His eyes darted between the siblings, instantly registering their grief-stricken expressions.

"You're back," Howard said softly, stepping aside to let them in. "Alyssa's been asking for you."

As they entered the foyer, the sound of a child's laughter echoed from the living room. The stark contrast between Alyssa's innocence and the weight of their news made Bree's heart constrict painfully.

Jarvis appeared in the doorway, his usually composed demeanor faltering as he took in their somber faces, his voice barely above a whisper. "I take it the mission didn't go as planned."

Steve shook his head, unable to form words. Bree leaned against her brother for support, drawing strength from his presence.

As they entered the room, Alyssa looked up from where she was playing with a set of toy blocks. Her face lit up with joy at the sight of her godmother and uncle. "Aunt Bree! Uncle Steve!"

Alyssa jumped up, running towards them. Bree knelt down, opening her arms to catch the little girl in a tight embrace. She held on perhaps a bit too long, savoring the moment before the innocence would be shattered.

Alyssa squirmed in Bree's arms, her small hands pushing against her godmother's shoulders. "Aunt Bree, you're squishing me!"

Alyssa giggled, oblivious to the tension in the room.

Bree reluctantly loosened her grip, forcing a smile onto her face as she met Alyssa's bright brown eyes. "Sorry, sweetheart. I just missed you so much."

Alyssa's eyes, so much like Alec's, searched Bree's face, her voice filled with childish curiosity as her gaze darted around the room expectantly. "Where's Daddy? And Uncle Bucky? Did they come back too?"

The innocent question felt like a knife twisting in Bree's heart. She glanced up at Steve, silently pleading for help. He knelt down beside them, placing a gentle hand on Alyssa's back.

"Alyssa," Steve began, his voice soft and careful. "We need to talk to you about something very important."

Alyssa's brow furrowed, sensing the change in atmosphere. "Is it about Daddy?"

Bree nodded, forcing herself to meet Alyssa's gaze. "Yes, honey." She took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "Alyssa, sweetie, your daddy and Uncle Bucky... they went on a very important mission with us. They were so brave, and they fought so hard to protect people."

Alyssa's eyes widened, a mix of pride and confusion on her young face. "Did they catch all the bad guys?"

Steve's voice was gentle. "They helped us stop a lot of bad guys, Alyssa. But sometimes... sometimes even when people are very brave and strong, bad things can still happen."

Alyssa's bottom lip began to quiver, her small hands gripping Bree's sleeve. "What happened to my daddy and Uncle Bucky? Are they hurt?"

Bree pulled Alyssa closer, unable to say it.

Steve took a deep breath, his voice gentle but firm. "Alyssa, your daddy and Uncle Bucky... they're not coming home. They fell from a train while trying to protect us and a lot of other people. They were heroes."

Alyssa's face crumpled, tears welling up in her eyes. "But... but they have to come home! Daddy promised he'd be back soon!"

Bree pulled Alyssa close, her own tears falling freely now. "I know, sweetheart. I know he promised. Sometimes... sometimes even when people want to keep their promises, they can't. Your daddy loved you so much, Alyssa. He fought so hard to come back to you."

Alyssa buried her face in Bree's shoulder, her small body shaking with sobs. "I want my daddy! I want Uncle Bucky!"

Steve moved closer, enveloping both Bree and Alyssa in a protective embrace. His own eyes were moist as he stroked Alyssa's hair. "We know, sweetheart. We miss them too. So much."

The room fell silent except for Alyssa's heart-wrenching cries, punctuated by Bree's quiet sobs.

Howard and Jarvis stood off to the side, their own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Steve placed a comforting hand on Bree's back, his own grief etched deeply in the lines of his face.

After a few moments, Alyssa's sobs quieted to sniffles. She pulled back slightly, her tear-stained face looking up at Bree and Steve, her voice small and frightened. "What's going to happen to me now?"

Bree and Steve had no idea how to answer that.

They knew they had to see this war through to the end. They had to stop Red Skull and get justice for Bucky and Alec and save so many other people.

And like Bucky had told Bree, in order to stop Red Skull, she might have to sacrifice herself to do it.

So as much as Bree wanted to promise Alyssa that she would always be there to take care of her, she knew that was a promise that she didn't know if she could make.

Steve didn't know if he could make it, either. They were heading into the final battle, and either of them could die. Both of them could die.

And if that happened, they truly had no idea what would happen to Alyssa, and that terrified them to no end.

✯

Abandoned Bar

Steve was sitting in a darkened, old shambled abandoned bar, drinking, listening to a baseball game on the radio without really hearing it, having been crying.

Peggy walked in, looking around the bar for Steve until she found him.

Steve saw her, wiping the tears away, sniffling, pouring himself another drink. "Dr. Erskine said that... the serum wouldn't just affect the subject's muscles. It would affect their cells. Create a protective system... of regeneration and healing. Which means, um... I can't get drunk." Peggy walked closer. "Did you know that?"

Peggy took a seat across from him. "Your metabolism burns four times faster than the average person. He thought it could be one of the side effects." Steve didn't respond, gazing off. Peggy looked at him in sadness. "It wasn't your fault."

"Did you read the report?" Steve inquired.

"Yes," Peggy answered.

Steve shook his head. "Then you know that's not true."

"You did everything you could," Peggy reassured. "You and Bree both did. Did you believe in Bucky and Alec? Did you respect them?" Steve nodded. Peggy nodded in return. "Then stop blaming yourself. Allow Barnes and Anders the dignity of their choice. They damn well must have thought you were worth it."

"And now Bree lost her fiancé and a best friend, and Alyssa lost her father and godfather," Steve said sadly. "And I lost both of my best friends who were my brothers." Peggy looked at him sympathetically. Steve shook his head. "I don't know how to help them through that. Alyssa made us promise that we would stop Schmidt. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going after him. I'm not going to stop till all of Hydra is dead or captured."

Peggy took Steve's hand. "You won't be alone."

Steve raised his gaze to meet Peggy's.

✯

Amara:

Stark Guest House

Alyssa had cried herself to sleep, now laying down in bed.

Bree was packing Alyssa's things, crying. She looked at her compass, which contained a picture of herself, Bucky, Steve, Alec and Alyssa. The only family Bree had left, and two were gone.

Bree reached up to clasp the compass pendant of the necklace gifted to her by Bucky the night before he was deployed. She looked at the engagement ring on her finger that Bucky had given her the night before he died. She looked toward Alyssa, her little goddaughter that lost her father, uncertain if she would make it back.

Bree already felt dead inside.

Amara came to check on Bree, looking at her sadly. "Bree?"

Bree looked at Alyssa to ensure she was sleeping before stepping into the hallway with Amara. "Alyssa finally went to sleep. I don't want her to wake up."

Amara nodded in understanding, sadly. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there on the train with you."

"That wasn't your fault," Bree whispered.

Amara nodded barely. "Then it wasn't yours, either."

Bree leaned against the wall, her eyes fixed on Alyssa's sleeping form through the cracked door. The little girl's face was still tear-stained, her small hands clutching a stuffed bear that Bucky had given her for her last birthday. The sight made Bree's heart ache even more.

"Amara," Bree whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "I don't know what to do. Alyssa's lost so much already. Her mother when she was born, and now Alec and Bucky. She's only seven, and her world has been shattered."

Amara placed a comforting hand on Bree's shoulder. "I know, Bree. It's a terrible burden for such a young child to bear."

Bree turned to face her friend, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "And now... now Steve and I have to go after Schmidt. We have to finish this, for Bucky and Alec. We promised Alyssa we would finish it. She made us promise to finish it." Amara nodded in understanding. "But what if..."

Bree's voice trailed off, unable to voice her deepest fear.

Amara finished the thought for her, understanding in her eyes. "What if you don't come back?"

Bree nodded, a tear escaping down her cheek. "Bucky told me... just before he died, that in order to take down Red Skull, we might have to sacrifice ourselves. And it's looking more and more like he's right. And I can't bear the thought of Alyssa losing anyone else. But I also can't abandon this mission. Bucky and Alec gave their lives for it. We have to see it through."

Amara squeezed Bree's hand reassuringly. "You're not alone in this, Bree. We're all here for you, for Alyssa. Whatever happens, I'll make sure she's taken care of. We all will. Howard, Jarvis, Peggy. Me."

Bree managed a weak smile, grateful for her friend's support. "Thank you. But you don't have to do that."

"I want to," Amara replied. "You, Steve, Bucky and Alec became my friends. And I care about what happen to you and to Alyssa. Alec and Bucky gave their lives to do the right thing, and if the same thing happens with you or Steve... well, taking care of Alyssa is the least I can do."

Bree nodded gratefully, her eyes welling with fresh tears. She pulled Amara into a tight hug, drawing strength from her friend's unwavering support.

"Thank you," Bree whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

As they pulled apart, a small voice called out from the bedroom. "Aunt Bree?"

Bree quickly wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, composing herself before stepping back into the room. Alyssa was sitting up in bed, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy from crying.

"I'm here, sweetheart," Bree said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and smoothing Alyssa's hair.

Alyssa's lower lip trembled as she looked up at her godmother, clutching her stuffed bear tighter. "I had a bad dream. Daddy and Uncle Bucky. They were falling and falling and I couldn't reach them."

Bree's heart clenched painfully. She gathered Alyssa into her arms and held her close, gently rocking her. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I know it hurts. I have those dreams too."

Alyssa sniffled against Bree's shoulder. "Will the bad dreams ever go away?"

Bree hesitated, not wanting to lie but also not wanting to crush the little girl's hope. "They might not go away completely, Alyssa. But they'll get less scary over time. And you know what? Your daddy and Uncle Bucky are always watching over you, even in your dreams."

Alyssa's small fingers clutched at Bree's shirt. "I miss them so much, Aunt Bree. When are they coming back?"

Bree's eyes filled with fresh tears. She took a shaky breath, trying to find the right words. "Alyssa, remember what we talked about earlier? About how sometimes... sometimes people we love can't come back, even when they want to?"

Alyssa nodded against Bree's chest, her voice muffled. "But maybe... maybe they're just lost. Maybe we can find them."

Bree's heart broke anew at the hope in Alyssa's voice. She pulled back slightly, cupping Alyssa's face in her hands. "Alyssa..."

Alyssa's eyes glistened, not wanting to give up hope, but she also didn't want to hurt Bree more with the thought they could be out there. "Are they up in the stars with Mommy? Like Daddy always said?"

Bree nodded painfully. "That's right. And they all love you so much."

Alyssa pulled back slightly, her brown eyes wide and questioning. "Really? Even though they're gone?"

Bree nodded, forcing a small smile. "Really. Love doesn't end just because someone isn't here anymore. Your daddy and Uncle Bucky will always love you. And so will I, and Uncle Steve."

Alyssa's face scrunched up in thought, trying to process this complex idea. After a moment, she looked up at Bree with worry in her eyes. "Aunt Bree... you and Uncle Steve are going to go away too. To stop Red Skull." Tears welled in her eyes. "What if you don't come back either?"

Bree felt her heart breaking all over again. She pulled Alyssa close, stroking her hair gently. "Oh sweetheart, I wish I could promise you that we'll always be here. But you're right, Uncle Steve and I have to go away for a little while."

"To fight the bad guys?" Alyssa asked in a small voice.

Bree nodded. "That's right. To stop the people who hurt your daddy and Uncle Bucky."

Alyssa was quiet for a moment, her little face scrunched up in thought. Then she looked up at Bree, determination shining through her tears. "You have to get them, Aunt Bree. You have to make them pay for hurting Daddy and Uncle Bucky."

Bree felt a surge of fierce pride at Alyssa's words, even as her heart ached. "We will, sweetheart. Uncle Steve and I promise we'll do everything we can to stop them."

Alyssa nodded solemnly, then bit her lip. "But... but what if you don't come back home either?"

Bree took a deep breath, knowing she couldn't make promises she might not be able to keep. "Alyssa, I want you to know something very important. No matter what happens, you will always be loved and taken care of. Miss Amara, Mr. Stark, Mr. Jarvis, and Miss Peggy. They all care about you so much. They'll make sure you're safe and happy."

Alyssa's lower lip trembled. "But I want you and Uncle Steve." Her small hands gripped Bree's arms. "Promise me you'll come back, Aunt Bree. Promise me you won't leave me too."

Bree's heart clenched painfully. She wanted nothing more than to make that promise, to reassure Alyssa that everything would be okay. But she couldn't bring herself to make a promise she wasn't sure she could keep.

"Alyssa," Bree began carefully. "I promise you that Uncle Steve and I will do everything in our power to come back to you. We love you so much, and we'll fight as hard as we can to return. But I need you to be brave, just like your daddy and Uncle Bucky were brave. Can you do that for me?"

Alyssa nodded solemnly, her small face set with determination despite the tears still glistening in her eyes. "I'll be brave, Aunt Bree. I promise."

Bree hugged Alyssa tightly, her own tears falling silently. "That's my girl. You're so strong, just like your daddy."

They sat in silence for a few moments, holding onto each other. Then Alyssa spoke up, her voice small but steady. "Aunt Bree? Can you tell me a story about Daddy and Uncle Bucky? A happy one?"

Bree smiled softly, grateful for the chance to remember happier times. "Of course, sweetie."

As Bree held Alyssa in her arms and told her a happy story, Alyssa fell back asleep in Bree's arms. Bree was crying silently into the night as she held Alyssa, having no idea what the future would hold.

✯

Bree:

Amara:

Allies Base

Soldiers, Peggy, Amara and Howard were meeting.

"Johann Schmidt belongs in a bug house," Phillips told them. "He thinks he's a god and he's willing to blow up half the world to prove it. Starting with the USA."

"Schmidt's working with powers beyond our capabilities," Howard told them. "He gets across the Atlantic. He'll wipe out the entire eastern seaboard in an hour."

"How much time we got?" Steve asked.

"According to my new best friend, 24 hours," Phillips answered, referencing Dr. Zola.

"Where is he now?" Amara asked.

Phillips pointed at the map. "Hydra's last base is here. In the Alps, 500 below surface."

"So, what are we supposed to do?" Morita asked. "It's not like we can just knock on the front door."

"Why not?" Bree asked. They looked at her. "That's exactly what we're going to do."

✯

Locker Room

Bree was getting dressed in her Star Mistress uniform.

Amara discarded of her Lady Liberty uniform while taking out her own armor, orange and black.

Bree watched curiously. "What is that?"

"It's what I wore when I came to earth, fleeing from my home with the Tesseract," Amara answered. "This is the kind of armor my people wore on Vialara. I should have worn this from the beginning. But... Senator Brandt and Colonel Phillips wouldn't have allowed it."

"Why the change now?" Bree asked, though she seemed to know.

Amara swallowed. "Bucky and Alec were merely human and they weren't afraid to make the change, despite the cost of their lives. I can't be afraid, either. None of us can be."

Bree nodded in agreement, sadly. She was touched that Bucky and Alec had such an impact on Amara as well, enough to trigger this reaction in her.

And now they were going to finish what they started.

✯

Bree:

Amara:

Hydra Base - Outside

Steve and Bree were suited up as Lady Liberty, Captain America and Star Mistress, while Amara wore her Valarian armor, riding motorcycles down the road through the woods toward the base.

Hydra agents started to follow on motorcycles.

Steve followed Amara and Bree on his bike to protect them and himself with the shield that was placed over his back.

The Hydra agents started to shoot their blue blast guns.

The shield received most of the blue blasts.

Two Hydra agents drove faster, past Steve, to drive on either side of Bree.

While driving with one hand, Bree unsheathed her staff and swung it at Agent 1's motorcycle, hooking and slashing his tires, causing him to crash into a tree. Simultaneously, she hurled her staff behind her, piercing Agent 2's motorcycle gas tank with its pointed end, triggering an explosion and sending the bike crashing into a boulder. She continued driving, using her electromagnetic glove to retrieve her staff, catching it.

Amara, meanwhile, defended herself with her arm gauntlets against incoming bullets and blasts while approaching the base on her motorcycle. She brandished her lasso, ensnaring a pursuing motorcycle and hurling it and Agent 3 into the air, resulting in a crash that was likely fatal. She replicated the feat with Agent 4's motorcycle, effectively taking out another adversary.

Two Hydra agents drove toward them from ahead.

Steve tossed a bomb onto both their motorcycles. Bree, Amara and Steve hurried past, looking back as the bombs exploded behind them.

A tank drove toward them from ahead.

Bree and Amara decelerated to let Steve move to the lead. Steve removed the shield from his back and held it before him, absorbing all the shots from the tank. He then fired a bomb into the tank, causing a massive explosion.

Riding up the debris of the tank, Amara, Bree, and Steve launched their motorcycles over the base's wall, landing on the other side.

As Amara approached the barricades, she stood on her motorcycle's seat. She vaulted into the air, flipping over the barricade. Her motorcycle collided with it and burst into flames, destroying the barricade and clearing the way for Bree and Steve.

After completing her aerial flip, Amara landed, skidding on the gravel as she unsheathed her golden double-bladed sword. She charged at Agent 5, slicing his back and sending him tumbling to the ground. She then dashed past Agents 6 and 7, striking them with her elbows hard enough to knock them down. She spun the double-bladed sword to slash into both of them with either blade as she twirled around, killing them both.

Amara spotted Agent 8, a sniper perched in a tower, aiming at them. She hurled her lasso upwards, ensnaring Agent 8's neck and pulling him from his perch, the fall proving lethal.

Bree and Steve dismounted their motorcycles, which continued towards two clusters of Hydra agents. The bikes detonated upon impact, eliminating the agents.

Steve threw his shield into Agent 9, making him fall. The shield came back to him. He threw a bomb into a group of Hydra agents, watching it explode.

Agent 10 attempted to fire at Bree with a blue blast gun. Bree dodged and swung her staff, knocking the weapon from his grasp, then spun and delivered a kick to his head. She raised her staff and slashed across the agent's face, then kicked him with such force that he flipped through the air and crashed into a nearby vehicle.

Agent 11 aimed at Steve, who defended himself with his shield, striking the agent and sending him flying into a car, denting it and causing him to collapse. As Agent 12 charged, Steve repelled him with a swift kick.

Bree's staff hook tore off Agent 13's mask as she slashed across it, followed by a powerful kick that sent him somersaulting through the air to the ground. She then turned and struck Agent 14 with her staff, spinning to land a backhand punch to his face.

Amara charged at Agent 15, somersaulting and propelling herself forward, tackling him to the ground while shouting and delivering a flurry of punches to his face. She then used her lasso to hurl him into the air, sending him flying into the distance.

Agent 16's surprise attack on Bree was thwarted as Steve hurled his shield, striking him in the head and felling him. The shield returned to Steve.

Bree hooked Agent 17's uniform with her staff and spun, flinging him skyward. Steve's shield strike sent him spiraling through the air before he hit the ground.

Flamethrower-wielding Hydra agents encircled Bree, Amara, and Steve, unleashing flames to trap them within a fiery triangle before allowing the blaze to die down.

Meanwhile, numerous Hydra operatives with blue blast guns cornered the trio, guns trained on them. Capturing Bree, Amara, and Steve had been all too simple for them.

✯

Inside

Amara, Bree and Steve let the Hydra agents take them to Red Skull inside.

The agents restrained them.

Red Skull walked closer. "Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait. But I must say you do it better than anyone."

"Oh, pity I'm not American then," Amara remarked sarcastically, her crisp British accent clearly heard.

Red Skull glanced at Amara. "And what are you, exactly, Miss Carter? I know you're not like us. But you're something more than human." Amara refused to answer. Red Skull didn't expect one, continuing. "But, there are limits, to what even you three can do. Or did Erskine tell you otherwise?"

"He told me you were insane," Steve told him.

"And I, of all people, can say that that's true," Bree quipped.

Red Skull nodded in acknowledgement. "Ah. Dr. Erskine resented my genius, and tried to deny me what was rightfully mine." He looked at Bree. "While you were turned to save your life after he had died..." He looked at Steve. "He gave you everything while he was still alive. Though, he did choose the both of you. So. What made you so special?"

"Nothing," Steve answered. "We're just kids from Brooklyn."

Red Skull backhand punched Steve in the face twice.

Amara and Bree pretended to give all their strength to struggle and fight back. The Hydra agents restraining them tightened their grip.

"Bastards," Amara hissed.

Steve looked up, breathing heavily. "I can do this all day."

"Of course you can," Red Skull concurred. "Of course. But, unfortunately, I'm on a tight schedule."

The Commandos from the outside were shooting cables into the wall from outside, sliding toward the wall of glass windows in the room.

Red Skull looked out the window in confusion.

Bree looked at Schmidt in anger. "So are we."

The Commandos broke through the windows, shooting the Hydra agents and at Red Skull.

Amara, Steve and Bree threw the Hydra agents restraining them off with ease.

Red Skull ran out of the room, leaving.

The gunfire continued.

Bree held her electromagnetic gloved hand toward her staff to bring it into her hand, running out of the room, leaving.

Jones picked up Steve's shield. "Captain, you might need this."

Jones threw the shield toward Steve.

Steve caught the shield. "Thanks."

Steve ran out of the room, down the corridor.

Amara saluted the Commandos. "About time, boys."

Amara took her lasso from the agents, along with her double-bladed sword, running out of the room.

✯

Another Corridor

Bree ran down another corridor.

✯

Entrance

More soldiers burst their way into the base.

Morita spoke through a radio. "We're in, assault team now!"

Phillips was in the woods with the rest of the soldiers and Peggy. "Move out!"

The soldiers in the woods ran toward the base.

Soldiers were walking through the corridors, firing at the Hydra agents.

✯

Woods

Soldiers ran through the woods toward the base, shooting Hydra agents.

Hydra agents fired at several soldiers with the blue blast guns, disintegrating them. They had to fall back because of proceeding numbers.

There were several explosions.

✯

Hydra Base - Corridor

Red Skull walked down a corridor toward Hydra agents.

There were explosions from outside that reached inside, demolishing the walls.

Soldiers stormed inside.

Red Skull picked up a blue blast gun from a dead Hydra agent, shooting several soldiers, disintegrating them, running away.

✯

Another Corridor

Soldiers ran down a corridor, including Phillips, firing on Hydra agents.

"Kill one, two more will grow back in their place," a Hydra agent told them.

Phillips shot him in the head, watching him fall dead. "Let's go find two more."

✯

Corridor

Amara, Steve and Bree were chasing Red Skull down a corridor.

Red Skull tried to shoot them with the blue blast gun repeatedly.

Bree would duck or press her back to the wall to make him miss.

Steve would use his shield to protect them.

Amara would use her gauntlets to deflect the blasts and protect herself.

Red Skull ran toward a pair of closing double doors.

Steve threw his shield down the corridor to stop the doors from closing by wedging the shield between the doors.

Amara, Steve and Bree started to run closer.

Fire suddenly flooded the corridor, soaring toward them.

Amara, Bree and Steve pressed their backs against the walls on either side of the corridor to avoid being burned.

The fire was coming from two flamethrowers that were held by a large Hydra agent.

Amara whipped out her lasso, launching it around the two flamethrowers, ripping them out of the large Hydra agent's hands, throwing them back into the face of the agent, knocking him down and out.

Another agent ran closer from the other side. Amara swung her lasso back around to snap the agent in the face, spinning around to kick him in the legs, making him flip wildly through the air as he tumbled to the ground.

Just as another agent was about to attack, Peggy arrived, using an automatic gun to shoot the Hydra agent dead.

Amara turned to her sister, nodding. "Nice one, Peggy."

"Likewise," Peggy replied. "Apparently using your powers in war has some advantages after all."

"When I know that the army's on our side," Amara agreed.

Soldiers ran closer.

Steve walked toward Peggy. "You're late."

Steve and Peggy looked at each other intensely for a moment.

Bree walked past them to grab the shield from the doors. "Steve."

Steve looked at Bree. "Yeah?" Bree threw the shield to Steve. Steve caught it. "Right."

Bree ran through the doors before they closed behind her.

✯

Hangar

Red Skull made it to the hangar, boarding a plane.

Three soldiers ran closer to climb aboard to stop him. Red Skull shot then dead, walking toward the pilot seat, setting the Tesseract stone correctly, preparing for takeoff, setting the target as New York City. He began to fly.

Bree ran closer to the plane. She fought, pushed, and stabbed her way through Hydra agents protecting the plane. She saw a long cable above, jumping onto a crate, leaping up to use the hook of the staff to catch the cable, gliding above the Hydra agents as long and as far as she could. When she ran out of cable to glide along, jumping down, continuing to run. She was able to get underneath the plane, coming to a stop.

A car containing Steve, Peggy and Amara pulled up next to Bree. Amara was driving. Steve and Peggy were in the backseat.

Amara looked at Bree. "Get in."

Bree got into the passenger seat of the topless car.

Amara drove them in the direction of the plane.

Red Skull was still flying the plane, seeing them in the car gaining on him through the rearview mirrors. He prepared to fly through an exit in the hangar tunnel ahead.

Amara drove the car even faster toward the plane, coming up beneath it.

Bree stood from the passenger seat, preparing to jump up. She looked at Amara. "Keep it steady." She looked at Steve. "Be ready."

Peggy turned to Steve. "Hold on." They shared a kiss that could rival any cinematic farewell. Bree's eyes were a portrait of sorrow, while Amara's gaze held a touch of sweet sorrow. As Steve and Peggy broke their embrace, Peggy cast a glance between Bree and Steve. "Your move, hero."

Bree eyed Amara, silently pleading for a stable ride.

Amara gave a firm shake of her head. "I'm not kissing you."

Steve put his shield on his back.

Bree clung to the car, dodging the airplane blades. She leaped into the air, using the hook of her staff to link to the ball pin of the airplane. She turned to hold her other hand toward Steve. "Come on."

Steve leaped up, catching Bree's hand.

Bree pulled Steve up, throwing him to the airplane wheel.

Steve caught hold of the wheel, holding his hand toward Bree.

Bree jumped to catch Steve's hand.

Steve pulled Bree up to the wheel.

As the airplane wheels retracted back into the airplane, they took Steve and Bree with them.

Amara and Peggy pulled over, watching in shock, because they hadn't believed they could do it, impressed that they did.

They knew that this was the beginning of the end.