POV: Mrs. Barnes

The four men guarding our door are now lying on the ground, along with the door itself. Bucky puts his gloves back on and grabs my hand to move us away from here. I respond to his worried glance by squeezing his fingers. Seeing him beat up bad guys doesn't affect me as much as he seems to care.

We make our way cautiously through the corridors. I told him where our son might be, a guess limited by my knowledge of the area. As we reach the junction of two corridors, the sound of voices makes me let go of Bucky's hand. He stops on the other side of the intersection and beckons me to go over to him. I'm about to step across, but change my mind when I spot people appearing at the end of the corridor between us. There's no way to cross without coming into their view.

"Go ahead, I'll catch up!"

Bucky frowns and shakes his head firmly. "I'm not leaving you here alone."

"Looks like you've got no choice." I remark as the voices get closer.

He lets out a frustrated sigh as he comes to the same conclusion. "Please just stay out of trouble."

I nod. There's no way I can get into more trouble than we already are. Can I? Better not to make it a challenge.

Hidden in a recess of the wall, I see Bucky turn the corner just in time for a group of people to walk past me. Their conversation sounds lively. Fortunately, they continue on their way without changing direction, all the while absorbed in their discussion.

I catch a glimpse of their suits and cocktail dresses. A second group, wearing radically different attire, follows the first. They are dressed in curious green and yellow suits. I don't recognize the language they're talking in. It sounds different from the Russian my ears have begun to get used to, and it's definitely not English.

I wait for the voices to fade before finally stepping out of my hiding place. After making sure the corridor is clear, I pick up the pace to catch up with Bucky.

But I don't go very far before I have to stop again.

A man with a purple mask is holding me at gunpoint, blocking the way. I freeze. Without uttering a word, the man waves his gun towards the nearest room, beckoning me to enter. I swallow, raising my hands above my head, and comply.

Once inside, he takes off his mask.

"I know you." I say, staring at him. "You were on the news something like, what? More than ten years ago? You're the one who-" I pause and take a step back, recognizing the man standing in front of me. The very same one who forced Bucky back into the hell he'd been through. My fear of him fades into dislike. "Oh, boy. You are..."

"Helmut Zemo." He introduces himself with a slight accent. "You can call me Helmut."

"The first-name thing would be easier if you weren't pointing your gun at me."

"It's just a precautionary measure. I don't trust people related to Super-soldiers."

I look at him without understanding what he wants from me, waiting for him to get to the point. He's very much mistaken if he thinks he's the first person this week to point a gun at me and threaten to kill me. It's almost becoming a habit.

"Where is your son?"

"Actually, I'm wondering the same thing. I might even have found him by now if you weren't keeping me."

"I heard he has inherited some of his father's abilities. Is that true?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Well, it's up to you. I thought I could at least leave Barnes his wife to wipe his tears, but I'm not attached enough to him to be that determined to spare you."

"So you want to kill my son?"

"Don't take it personally. Super-soldiers shouldn't exist anymore, let alone multiply."

"He's just a child, he's innocent."

"What makes you so sure he won't turn out like his father?"

"We didn't want any of that. We're doing everything we can to raise him far away from all this sick madness about Super-soldiers."

"And yet, here we are tonight."

"We won't let anybody put him through the same atrocities that people like you did to Bucky."

Fists clenched, I stare into his eyes, letting my anger and revolt express themselves through my gaze. A cocky smirk grows on his face.

"I wonder how a woman like you, who looks quite sane, could choose to marry him. Don't you care about the amount of blood he has on his hands and the murders he has committed? Not to mention his way of losing his mind and turning into an obedient pet when you say a few magic words."

"That blood should never have ended up on his hands. Bucky is a hero, and he's saved billions of lives."

"Look, I know Barnes' value, even though I'm convinced anyone with serum in their veins has lost all humanity. Your son is born that way. How do you think you can keep him from losing it? With love and education? He barely knows how to speak and he's already fallen into the wrong hands."

I lower my head. What can I say to that? He is only voicing my deepest fears.

"Well, not that I don't appreciate our little chat, but I don't have all night." He says impatiently as he heads for the door.

I get ahead of him, trying to stop him. As I step between him and the door, he waves me aside. I have the subtle reflex to protect my stomach with my arm. Zemo stops. His gaze falls on my abdomen and a smirk appears on his face. My gesture didn't go unnoticed.

He understood.

"Well, well, well, don't tell me there's another one. I don't know if congratulations are in order. I assume I wasn't going to get any birth announcement card for that one either?"

I take a step back, unsure of what he's about to do.

"You leave me no choice." He sighs, almost annoyed.

"So that's how it is? You're going to kill a child who hasn't even been born yet? An innocent?"

"Being innocent doesn't stop a child from dying."

His tone weakens. Behind his aplomb and hard features, I detect his pain. I feel he's less confident, almost hesitant, even though the man has killed the King of Wakanda in cold blood and probably more people than I can ever estimate.

"You've lost a child?" I venture to ask.

"My son and my wife, in Sokovia. Because of the Avengers."

"I can't imagine your pain."

"They were innocent. Killed by supremacists in denial, enhanced individuals who consider themselves above the law."

I understand his anger. As a parent, I can only sympathize with the heartbreak he must be feeling. Maybe that's what drives me to place a hand on his forearm to express my compassion.

"Helmut. What happened to your family is unfair. I... I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to my children, or even if I could live with it."

"How can you be sure they won't commit such cruel acts?"

"I just want to protect them. To do my best to offer them a life far from human violence and cruelty, even though I know I'll always be consumed by the fear that one day someone will come after them."

Helmut says nothing, engaging us in a silent exchange of gazes. I feel like he understands me.

"What was the name of your son?"

"Carl." He replies, a touch of melancholy in his voice.

"That's a beautiful name."

For a brief moment, I catch the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

The door suddenly opens on Bucky, our son on his hip. I rush to my little boy and take him in my arms. He presses his wet cheek against mine, his little arms hugging me tightly. His father gives me a questioning glance before his gaze lands on Helmut. Any trace of relief instantly fades from his face.

"Don't they ever lock the doors in prison?" He says, frowning.

"Do you really think I need you whenever I want to get some fresh air?" Helmut answers, having regained his smirk and confidence.

"What are you doing here?"

"So you don't know? The Power Broker is throwing a party to recruit buyers for his serum project. Do you think I'd miss the opportunity to invite myself to ruin his plans and get rid of his resources?"

"The Power Broker." I blurt at the same time as Bucky. The same glimmer of understanding appears simultaneously in our eyes. He's not a he. "Sharon."

"Well, it's about time."

"How long have you known?"

"Ever since our little trip to Madripoor. Shortly after, to be precise. I've been keeping an eye on the Power Broker for long enough and studied her closely enough to unmask the woman. You and your birdy friend would have done the same if you'd figured out the threat she was before taking her home."

"The Power Broker wanted to recreate the serum." Bucky remembers.

"She never stopped wanting to. That's all she's been thinking about all this time." Helmut confirms. "She's well aware of the money to be made. Do you even realize what she's up to? Women able to deliver Super-soldier babies, malleable children who can be easily indoctrinated and turned into compliant little soldiers from an early age... Whoever gets hold of this information and a new serum will be able to create armies of monsters at his command. A horde of Winter Soldiers trained right from the cradle. What better way to serve the worst mass slaughter and world domination projects? Trust me, you'd rather have me do what I planned than have her and her buyers use your children for their own sordid purposes."

An inaudible sigh escapes my lips when Helmut speaks of his plan using the past tense. Bucky pushes us behind him with a protective arm.

"You intend to kill them?"

"Unless you'd prefer to wait until you have to fight them yourself." The Sokovian provokes him.

"Helmut." I say, not wanting the tension between the two men to escalate any further.

"What do you mean, Helmut? You two are on first-name basis now?"

"We took the time to have a little chat." Helmut replies mischievously. "That kind of thing usually brings people closer."

"You wanna know who's getting closer and is coming for you?" Bucky exclaims with a death glare, his face almost touching Helmut's. "The Wakandans, and don't expect them to be as accommodating as last time."

My son yelps and buries his head in my neck. I've got to stop them before they attract attention.

"It's okay, Bucky. He's changed his mind."

"He what? You really think a guy like him could change his mind like that about his murder plans?"

"She's telling the truth. I'm not going to hurt them." Helmut confirms, raising his arms in peace.

Bucky stares at us in turn, bewildered. I nod to the Sokovian with gratitude. After all, he has done us a favor by revealing the extent of Sharon's plan.

"You'll have to explain how..."

"Later, I promise. Helmut, we need to get out of here."

Putting on his purple mask, he tells us how he got in through the roof. Bucky's confused expression says he can't believe his longstanding enemy is willing to help us. I don't know everything about their history, but the very human side Helmut has shown tonight makes me trust him.

So we head out after our unexpected escort. No sooner have we walked a few feet than a group of armed men appears in front of us.

Helmut looks at me. "Cover the kid's ears."

I barely have time to do so before he starts firing at our attackers. More and more of them arrive, attracted by the shots. Bucky protects us while pulling out a gun too.

"Go, I'll take care of it." The Sokovian says, turning to him.

Bucky stares at him for a moment, as if to make sure he's heard right, before grabbing my hand to lead us away from the fight. I'm just as surprised that the man who wanted to kill me a few minutes ago now intends to save my life. But there's no time to think.

I give our son to Bucky to make our run easier. By the time we reach the elevator, some other men spot us and start chasing us. There are too many of them, even for Bucky who also has to protect our son. As he steps into the elevator, I stop in front of it.

"Mama loves you, sweetie, stay with your daddy and I'll be back with you soon." I say to our little boy under his father's puzzled gaze before I turn to him. "I'm gonna slow them down. Run away with him and save him. You're the only one who can get him out of here."

"Absolutely not. You have no idea what they will do to you!"

"They won't do anything. They can't do anything to me, and they can't do anything to our baby until he's born. The most important thing is to keep him safe, and you know better than anyone what we want to spare him. Please protect our son."

"There's no way I'm leaving you here alone. We can make it, the four of us. Come on, get in, we don't have much time."

I turn and hear our pursuers getting closer. He's not going to let go, so I get in the elevator and press the button for the top floor.

"I love you both. We will go home together."

Just before the doors close, I take a step back and exit the elevator. Bucky moves forward to catch me, but it's too late. I can't let him make such a heavy choice. This is my decision to make.

"Mama!"

My heart aches as I hear his cry. I feel terrible doing this to them, but it's the only way they'll be able to escape, and the only way our son won't have to endure what his father went through. And Bucky knows it.