THE WOMAN IN the shadows finished jotting down words into her notepad. Y/N still sat several feet away from her in the dark room.

"Ah. Story began in Sokovia and ended in Sokovia." She skimmed through her notes once more. "Correction, you ended it off with the formation of your new team. Sorry."

Y/N looked up from the floor and towards the silhouette, still not being able to see who this Russian woman was.

The woman continued. "But, you still haven't explained how you got here."

The man tried to think back, and the woman could tell he was struggling initially. A part of Y/N also wondered why she was so interested on whether he remembered or not.

After a moment, the super soldier started to recall and the memory of it came to light.

"I...uh...I got a call." He said as he looked back down. "A favor from an old friend."

The woman flipped to a blank page on her notepad and prepared to write.

"Tell away."

• • •

THE PHOTO ALBUM was always something Y/N and Peggy went over during his visits. Even though the young man already knew about most of the photos in it from previous drop ins, he was willing to talk about them all over again with his mother.

"Wow, did I really wear that?" Y/N asked with a chuckle as he looked at a picture of him wearing a striped knit shirt and slacks.

Peggy smiled as she looked at it. "Oh, you looked so adorable. And it was a nice change from the cowboy getup you'd always wear."

Y/N knew about that too. The previous pages showed a few photos of him wearing a cowboy costume, which was actually a gift from Howard Stark at the time.

"From cowboy to church boy." Y/N replied and smiled. "Thanks a lot, mom."

She reached over and gripped his arm, and upon looking over, Y/N noticed her eyes starting to water. He placed the book down and held her hand.

"What's wrong?"

He already knew why. Peggy would often get emotional during his visits. The fact that she was able to see her son again was a blessing, and even the mention of "mom" from Y/N was enough to make her cry.

"God answered my prayers. You're here." She said. "Your father, too. I thought I'd be alone."

He gripped her hand tighter. "We're here now...I'm here. Like I said, I'm never leaving you again."

She smiled and Y/N wiped away the tears on her cheek with his thumb.

"And I want you to be happy, Y/N. That was all I ever wanted when raising you." She spoke. "Are you happy?"

"Of course." He replied sincerely. "I have you, I have dad, I have friends. I have a wonderful gal."

"Oh. Please tell me about her." She said.

Y/N chuckled. Although he's told Peggy about Natasha before, he was willing to do it again.

"You'd love her, mom. She's brave...smart...and beautiful." He explained. "And she can fight, which is bad news to those who try to cross her."

"She sounds amazing." Peggy replied with a smile.

Y/N smiled back. "You guys could totally be BFFs."

Suddenly, his phone rang and Y/N saw that it was an incoming call from Rhodey.

"Excuse me, mom. I have to take this." Y/N told Peggy, who gave a nod of understanding. He got up from the seat beside the bed and went over to the other side of the room.

"Rhodes?" He greeted once he answered.

"Hey, Y/N. Sorry, I know you're with your mom right now but this is urgent."

"No need to apologize. But what's so important?"

"We need to be debriefed for an op. Somebody wants our help and actually asked for you personally."

"Who?"

Rhodey paused for a moment.

"The new Secretary of State. Thaddeus Ross." 

• • •

THE TEAM SAT in the conference room within the facility. Everyone was there except for Y/N, who was currently speaking with Secretary Ross.

After a while, they both walked in and were ready to talk about what they discussed to the rest.

"I apologize if we took long." Y/N said.

"No need. It's fair to catch up with a war buddy." Sam replied.

Thaddeus placed a hand on Y/N's shoulder. "This man saved my life and many others. Even before he took up his current mantle, he was a hero."

Y/N simply nodded, not knowing what to say.

Ross continued. "I hope I can repay him one day, and I will, but right now...I need his help again."

Y/N turned towards the screen behind them which activated and showed information, including a map and a couple photos.

"A SEAL team unit was on a secret mission in Karkle, Lithuania. It's been almost a week and none of them communicated back." Y/N explained.

"Why were they there?" Steve asked.

Y/N turned to him. "To take down what we believe is a still-ongoing HYDRA cell."

"Jesus. Them again?" Sam asked.

"Even after the fall of the organization within S.H.I.E.L.D and Strucker's cell in Sokovia, it's likely there's still more out there." Vision explained.

"I believe so, too." Y/N agreed. "But the mission isn't to take them down, at least not yet. We need to extract the soldiers."

"Can't you get more of your American warriors to do it?" Pietro asked Ross. "Don't you have a guy like Ethan Hunt at the ready?"

Wanda slapped the side of his shoulder in which her brother flinched and rubbed the area.

"No, unfortunately we do not." Thaddeus answered. "I'm just want our men back. They have families and although they know what they signed up for, I don't want to give up on them."

Ross glanced at Y/N, remembering their time in Vietnam and how the Lieutenant saved his unit.

He continued. "I learned that back in 'Nam. To never leave people behind."

Rhodey nodded. "All right. So when do we get started?"

"Actually, this doesn't require all of us." Y/N told them.

Natasha raised a brow. "What?"

"This needs to be covert. We can't have every single Avenger there, and who knows how big that HYDRA cell is."

Steve agreed on his son's form of strategy, but wondered who would be on the op. "What's the plan, then?"

"It's just four soldiers we need to extract." Y/N began. "So I've decided that it's going to only be Sam and I."

Sam gave a nod of agreement. Vision, Wanda, Pietro, and Rhodey also understood their plan. Steve agreed, but with a little bit of reluctance for the fact that they were going in this alone. Natasha on the other hand...

"Just the two of you? I don't think so." She rebutted.

Y/N was honestly not surprised by her initial disagreement.

"It's the best plan of action." He told her.

"Like you said, you don't know how big that cell is. What if you get overwhelmed?"

"Even it turns out to be bigger that expected, it's not a fight I want. It's just to save the lives of these men."

"But if it turns into a fight, you'll be outnumbered."

Sam turned back to face Natasha. "You don't think we can handle it?"

"I'm not talking to you, Sam." She shot back, still looking directly at Y/N.

Sam sighed and turned back around.

She continued. "You get outnumbered then it's not just the soldiers that get hurt, you and Wilson do too."

Y/N shrugged. "Then I'll make sure that doesn't happen."

Natasha stared directly at Y/N and didn't say a word. She got up from her seat and left the room, leaving the current occupants in an awkward silence.

"Uh, I guess the meeting's over." Y/N told the team, then looked at Sam. "I'll let you know when it's time."

Y/N walked into the lounge and saw Natasha in the kitchen looking through the fridge. He walked up to her, and the redhead knew of his presence but continued looking for snacks.

"If you're looking for Uncrustables, I put them in the pantry." He spoke. "The wrapper says not to thaw them in the fridge or else the bread will harden."

She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and walked over to the island, ignoring him. She opened the bottle and started drinking.

Y/N noticed the name on the bottle. "That was my water by the way. You saw me label it last night."

"Not yours anymore." She said in between gulps.

"That's fine. I'll satiate my thirst another way." He replied and leaned in to kiss her, but she moved away and placed the bottle down.

Y/N crossed his arms. "Come on. Are you actually mad?"

Natasha started twisting the cap back onto the bottle. "You're so stubborn. I hope you know that."

"I do, actually."

"Just you and Sam, huh?"

"Yes." He answered, then recalled the moment two years ago when Natasha first met Sam. "What? Are you jealous? I'm taking him on a date before you could?"

"Stop." She said, not wanting to hear jokes at the moment.

He sighed and noticed her mood. He decided to get serious.

"It's just strategy." He spoke.

"Is it?" She asked.

"Most of it." He finally admitted after a slight pause. "I can't have more of us because...I don't want to risk it."

She faced him. "You shouldn't worry about the risk. We're Avengers."

"I know that." He replied. "But remember Ultimo in Europe? It wasn't even close to the extent of Ultron but Wanda and Rhodes got hurt."

Natasha thought back at that mission from three months ago. HYDRA operatives had collected spare parts of Ultron's sentries from Sokovia and built a large mech. Fortunately, the Avengers took it down.

Y/N continued. "I just don't want something worse to happen. Even if it does turn out to be a bigger cell...a bigger threat...I trust Sam and I to make it through."

"But you don't trust me?" She abruptly asked.

Y/N exhaled. "Of course I do, Tasha. For just this one time I'm thinking of your safety."

"You don't need to worry about me."

"You're totally right. But you just have to trust me on this." He put his hands on her waist and held her close. "I believe Sam and I can do this. It's just an extraction. In then out. I don't need Captain America, Black Widow, and...whatever Pietro calls himself, for this mission."

Natasha sighed, taking in his explanation.

"Just relax here. I'll be back and we can ignore both Fury's and Ross's calls for the next few weeks." He continued. "We can even see that new 007 movie. Daniel Craig is awesome."

Natasha finally gave a smile and ran her hands along his shoulders. "Better than Sean Connery?"

"It's close." Y/N said with a chuckle before kissing Natasha.

After parting, she spoke again. "You better come back in one piece, because if you don't I'm not doing that thing you like again."

He knew exactly what she was referring to. "Come on, really? Way to put pressure on me."

Natasha laughed, and the couple kissed once more.

• • •

THE QUINJET SOARED above Karkle, Lithuania. The pilot informed Falcon and Freedom Fighter of their oncoming destination.

"Land this thing by the coast." Y/N told the pilot as he fastened his headpiece. "We're going to lead the soldiers to you."

He gave a nod and Sam opened up the airstair. They looked down at the HYDRA base along the beach.

"Intel said that they're being held there." Y/N said as he pointed at a building on the north side of the base.

Sam toggled the infrared in his goggles. "Not many heat signatures, but yeah, they're mostly in that building."

"Then let's get going." Y/N said as he prepared to leap off.

"No parachute?" Sam asked.

"Don't need one."

Y/N jumped out of the jet and dived into the water below. Sam leaped out next and activated his wings.

Y/N snuck through the base all while keeping constant contact with Sam. The two military veterans showcased their stealthy prowess which they didn't use often.

Freedom Fighter made it to where the soldiers were being held. He walked along the corridors and entered a room containing cells. Immediately, he recognized the SEALs.

"Sam, I found them." He reported through his comms and walked up to the bars. He broke off the locks with his strength and opened the cells.

"Y/N!" Sam exclaimed through the radio. "Several more signatures just arrived."

"What?" He asked confusedly.

"They just rolled up. And it's a lot. We have to get them out of here, fast."

Y/N sighed. Of course, Natasha was right.

Freedom Fighter lead the four soldiers down the hallway and towards the exit. He heard footsteps on the other side and quickly took cover as a HYDRA agent walked in. He spotted the soldiers, but Y/N sprang out and shocked him in the neck with his baton.

His body dropped to the floor along with his rifle. Suddenly, three more agents outside noticed this and were prepared to run inside.

Y/N kicked the rifle towards one of the soldiers, who picked it up and shot at the incoming HYDRA goons.

Sam soared outside and shot his sub-machine guns at the agents below, getting most of their attention away from the building. Y/N and the soldiers, who picked up rifles for themselves, ran out of the building and through the base.

The two Avengers combined with experience of the four SEALs seemed to be getting the work done. They neared the beach and Y/N pointed at the jet by the water.

"Go!" He yelled.

They obeyed and ran towards the aircraft. Suddenly, the pilot within spoke through the comms.

"Lieutenant! We got a fifth signature in one of the west side buildings, in the boiler room."

"Are you sure? Intel said there was only four."

"I'm sure of it. He's the only one inside while the HYDRA gunmen are out."

"All right." Y/N said with a sigh. "I'm on it."

Freedom Fighter ran back into the base and towards the building. He kicked open the doors and sprinted through the hallways on his way to where the fifth soldier would've been.

He entered the boiler room, only to see that nobody was in it. He looked around in confusion, but suddenly felt a prick in his neck. Y/N pulled the dart out and looked at it before hearing footsteps behind him.

A HYDRA agent holding a gun walked up to him and Y/N placed his hands near his belt to grab his batons, but his body was starting to go limp. Whatever was in the dart was potent enough to incapacitate him, a super soldier.

Y/N fell to the ground and his vision was beginning to get blurry. The man crouched over him and grabbed Y/N's earpiece.

In reality, the pilot's report wasn't from the pilot himself. The comms were hacked by the man and he spoke using a voice modulator.

"Приятно наконец познакомиться с тобой (Nice to finally meet you)." He greeted, all while Y/N started to black out.

Sam made it to the Quinjet and settled in. He started to speak through his comms.

"Y/N? Where are you?"

There was no response.

"L/N? Can you read me?" He asked again.

More HYDRA agents stormed the beach and shot at the jet. It was only a matter of time before their sheer numbers overwhelmed them.

"Sir! We need to go!" The pilot exclaimed as the aircraft was being pummeled with bullets.

"Hold on!" Sam shouted and spoke into the comms again. "Y/N! Y/N!" He hit the wall with his fist. "Damn it!"

A HYDRA agent holding a rocket launcher shot at the Quinjet, but fortunately missed. The SEALs and the pilot now started to fear for their lives.

"We have to go now or else we're toast!" The pilot shouted. "We're either getting blown up here or out of the sky if we're too late!"

"I can't leave L/N behind!" He yelled back, but suddenly a voice came out of the comms.

"Sam! Are you on the jet?" Y/N asked.

"Y/N? Finally! Get your ass over here quick!"

"Go on without me! They don't know I'm here and I might've found information that Ross would like."

"Are you crazy? Who gives a shit?"

"Trust me on this, Sam. You have to."

Sam hesitated for a bit, then let out a sigh as he accepted. Y/N was one of the few he really trusted and he knew the young man was smart enough to know what was important.

"If you don't report back to me in half an hour, I'm telling Nat to kick your ass." He replied.

"Will do."

Sam turned around and informed the pilot of the situation. He closed the airstair and the Quinjet quickly flew away from the beach as HYDRA agents still fired their guns into the sky.

• • •

SHE FILLED ANOTHER page with information and finally closed the notepad. Y/N finished telling what he remembered, and although initially being confused at first, he started to realize and got angry.

"You took me! You kidnapped me!" Y/N shouted at the silhouette. "Where the hell am I?"

"Well, we didn't take you." She answered. "Other people did, and they gave you to us."

"So you're working with HYDRA?" He asked with a glare.

"Oh, God. No. They're kind of old school if I had to be honest."

"Then what the hell are you?"

There was a knock on the one-way glass behind her. The woman stood up from her seat and looked at Y/N.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

She walked towards the door and Y/N started to shout.

"Hey! Get back here! Let me out! Damn it!"

The woman left and stood by the window looking into the room she was just in. The man who called her also stood beside her.

"He was able to recall everything?" He asked her in his own thick Russian accent.

"Yes."

"From what happened six months ago to now?"

"In great detail. It shows the capabilities of his memory."

"Fascinating." He replied. "That's what I like to hear."

He looked over at the two doctors he called moments ago who had just arrived.

"Sedate the subject and begin the process."

They nodded and entered the room. Y/N looked at them before getting up and preparing to fight. But one of the doctors shot him with the same potent dart and knocked him out.

"So after it's done, what's next?" The woman asked.

"We'll send him back. Stage some sort of scenario with the help of our friends. He won't remember you or this place. And then when it's time, we'll retrieve him."

She nodded and the man turned to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"Thank you, Melina. You've helped make this process go much more smoothly."

Melina glanced into the room, seeing the doctors picking up Y/N's unconscious body. She looked back at her boss.

"Of course, Dreykov."

• • •

AFTER A WEEK of searching, the Avengers finally located Freedom Fighter. Now in a base in Estonia, they were going to free him from his HYDRA kidnappers.

Their combined tandem made quick work of the threats. Natasha made it her priority to be the one to retrieve her lover, and fought through several HYDRA goons to do so.

She found Y/N unconscious within a cell in a storage room. Natasha shot off the lock and ran up to him.

"Y/N? Baby?" She tried to wake him, and after a couple attempts he stirred awake.

"Nat?"

She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. When he didn't come back from the mission a week ago, she was both angry and worried. But now she was just elated to see him again.

"Cap, I got Y/N." She spoke through the comms.

"Thank God." Steve replied. "We're dealing with the stragglers. Get back to the jet."

Natasha helped Y/N up and the two made their way out of the room. The young man was felt a little bit weak and groggy, but was still able to move on his own.

They made it outside, where Falcon flew in the air and shot down HYDRA soldiers. Vision blasted a wall with his Mind Stone beam and incapacitated a few goons. War Machine fired his cannons and his armor deflected their gunfire. Wanda lifted two soldiers in the air and threw them aside only for Pietro to run in and take them out with several punches. Captain America's shield bounced off three soldiers before retreating back into the hands of its owner.

Steve looked on and saw Black Widow with his son. He started calling out to the rest of the Avengers.

"Let's move!"

They made it back to the Quinjet where Natasha piloted the aircraft and flew away from the base. Y/N sat down, his head aching and body still feeling pretty sore.

"Jesus, Y/N." Rhodey spoke as his face-plate retracted. "You look like shit."

"Thanks." Y/N replied with a weak chuckle.

Sam walked up as he took of his goggles. "Y/N, look, I'm sorry. I...I thought that was you through the radio."

Y/N recalled the HYDRA ruse from their mission before. Sam felt very bad, and has harbored the guilt for several days.

"It's not your fault, Sam. Don't blame yourself. I got tricked too."

Natasha activated auto-pilot and walked over to join the rest of the team, who were all relieved that their friend was okay.

Y/N looked at her. "Guess you were right. You always are."

"Stop it." She said softly and sat beside him. "We'll talk about who's right and who's wrong back home after you get your rest."

Steve crossed his arms and looked at Y/N, a light smile forming his face.

"What matters is that you're okay." He stated. "Are you?"

Y/N looked at his father, then his girlfriend, then at the rest of his friends within the jet. He was more than okay.

"I am."

END OF: AGE OF ULTRON