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Wise parents prepare their children
to get along without them
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"Where exactly are we going? I feel like we have been going in circles." James and woman, now identified as Sharon Carter, were on horses and have been riding for almost an hour and a half.  

"James, part of life is not having a plan for everything, and sometimes you need to relax and enjoy the ride," Sharon spoke. She turned to see the teenager roll his eyes. "But yeah, I know where we are going, someplace that has much history for your family." 

"What are you talking about?" James didn't know why he was even following this woman, but he just needed to get away from... well the world. Even for a little bit. 

They approached what looked like to be a run down old castle, Sharon and James got off their horses and stared at it. James began getting a bad feeling about this castle. 

There were swords and...bones covering the floor. The sun didn't quite reach the floor due to the overgrown trees and it was obviously been broken into several times. 

"Where are we?" James asked looking at the lady, who was coming dangerously close to him causing James to take a few steps back. He was in too much shock to do anything logical. 

"This is your new home," She said and pressed something into his neck, causing James to let out a small yelp. His hand went to his neck in fear and the sound of horses came closer to them. 

James was beginning to get extremely tired as he leaned against the tree, Sharon smirked and walked toward the noise. 
"Took you long enough," She said. 

"Well, she put up quite the fight. Did you talk to the queen?" The man asked he was dressed like a palace guard and holding a smaller body in his arms as he dismounted the horse. 

"I did, it's all going according to plan. Let's get the prince and princess inside, they look tired." Both figures smirked as they watched James fall to the ground groaning out pointless words. His eyes focused on the body they held and before passing out he remembered saying one word. 

"Sarah..." 

*
*
*
*

The kingdom was a mess to say the very least. After Pepper explained Sarah was escorted by a guard Natasha got very nervous, having all her guards being background checked by Clint now. 

"I want to know how he was able to get into this castle." Steve started. 

"Don't worry," Maria stated, she had come the moment she heard. "I am sure they will pop up." 

"The kingdom needs to know what is going on," Steve said, "they are scared and we need to bring them reassurance." 

"What reassurance are you going to bring them?" Natasha scoffed. "We know nothing, and telling them we know nothing will only cause another problem, one we can't handle right now." 

"Would you rather them sit in panic Natasha?" Steve asked. 

"Isn't that what we are doing? Maybe you should try to bring us some reassurance. You know your family? Half of which is missing by the way, in case you didn't notice," She shook her head, Steve was getting rather annoyed. 

"I can't do anything if my kingdom is panicking you know that!" He exclaimed in annoyance. 

"But they are not. They all understood the royal business and are safe. No one is panicking." Natasha said standing up to stand in front of her husband. The group watched quietly as the couple argued. 

"As the king, I have a role to this kingdom Natasha," Steve said and his wife snapped at his words. 

"What about your goddam role as a father!" She yelled causing everyone to flinch. "You are so focused on making your kingdom the best it can be you are forgetting about your family!" 

"That is not true. It's not my fault I have to run the kingdom alone because you so distracted all the time," He yelled. 

"I'm distracted? Yeah taking care of our kids. Apparently, I am the only one who cares about them coming home." The other spared glances at one another, no one daring to move. 

"They are my kids, of course, I care about them," He said,

"Well, it doesn't seem like it!" She exclaimed. "maybe if you did you wouldn't treat them like they are prisoners in their own home," 

"I am teaching them responsibility. Something they obviously can't learn from you," He shouted back. 

"Says the man who's psycho girlfriend almost killed me because we were supposed to be married, if you had done your responsibility none of that would have happened!" She said in anger. 

"I was in love! Don't act like you didn't do the same for James!" He yelled the mention of her former lover's name set her off even more. 

"Well unlike you I was willing to let him go for my kingdom, the only goddam reason you broke things off with Sharon was that she was arrested for treason." She yelled. 

"You are being overdramatic," Steve said and turned away from his wife in frustration. "I am running a kingdom, something they have to learn how to do," 

"They are slaves Steve, if they don't want to rule the goddam kingdom then they don't have to! We aren't going to force them into anything!" She yelled. 

"They have too! They are our only heirs!" Steve yelled. 

"Well maybe if you weren't too busy having a stick up your ass then we would have more. Let's face reality Steve, ever since you became king and held power that's all you care about," She said causing Steve to scuff. "You don't love me or our children, you only love the power." There was silence and Natasha shook her head. 

Natasha turned away and started walking out of the room, Steve turned his head only slightly before asking, "Where are you going," 

"Does it matter to you? I am going to find my kids because at least one of us loves them," then she left, Maria excusing herself to follow her. The room was quiet and the air.

"Your Highness," Sam said coming in, Steve turned to look at him. "The guards have been cleared no one else is working with the prisoner." 

"Where is Sir Clinton?" The king asked. 

"With the queen," He answered and Steve nodded, at least she was protected. He knew she could protect herself but he still worried. 

"Okay, I want to know how she managed to escape and I want my scouts in the meeting room now," He said and Sam nodded his head leaving the room. Steve turned to the kings, "Thor, Tony mind if I borrow your scouts? The more eyes the better." 

"Of course," Thor said and Tony nodded his head. "I assume the kids will be safe here?" 

"I highly doubt they will risk coming back," Steve said. "But I will have their rooms surrounded, no one can come in and out of their rooms," Steve reassured, they wouldn't be losing any more kids. "Morgan Lila and Torrun are currently in the east building, Francis and copper are in the room above them. Hardest building to get into." 

"Okay, well the faster we solve this the faster we get your kids back," Tony said. 

"What about the queen?" Pepper asked. 

"Leave her be, when Natasha is like this there is no stopping her, we can only hope we find them before she does," Steve said. "Now, let's find my kids." 

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It's not a lack of love but a lack of friendship
 and that is what makes it a unhappy marriage

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