Steve's POV

"Well is there anything we can do?" I ask, panicked, as Tony and Bruce work on their formulas.

They've been at this all day. It's almost nine o'clock at night already.

"Unless you know how to counteract a mixed solution of methamphetamines and arsenic, then no." Tony says, not bothering to look up.

I turn and walk out of the lab. Once I'm on the other side of the doors, I glance at Nat, who's standing beside me, to see her staring back at me. "It's gonna be okay." She speaks softly.

I feel tears forming in my eyes and look down. She sighs and wraps her arms around me. Her and I have been good friends for as long as I can remember. After Ally left and faked her death, of course I mourned but through that I grew even closer to Natasha.

"But what if it's not?" I pull her arms off of me and look down at her.

"Steve, I know you love her but there's nothing we can do." She presses her lips together.

I feel a pain in my chest and look down. "I don't love her." I lie through my teeth.

Nat stifles a laugh. "Yes you do." She lifts my chin. "You make it pretty obvious."

I furrow my eyebrows. "I do not!" I huff. "I'm just worried about Buck."

"Alright, whatever you say." She playfully rolls her eyes.

"I'm gonna go check on them." I say as we walk up the stairs.

I sigh and make my way down the hall to Bucky's room. I don't love Ally. I did, but that was a long time ago. She has Bucky now, there's no room left for me.

Once I reach his room, I softly knock on the door. I don't get a response but I hear whispers on the other side of the door so I open it anyway—big mistake.

"What the hell?!" Bucky yells as he covers himself and Ally with his blanket. "Don't you know how to knock?"

"I-I did." I blush, looking at the ground. "I didn't think-"

"You never think." Bucky shakes his head. "Well? Did you want something?" He asks.

I glance up and make eye contact with Ally as she peeks out from behind Bucky.

"I.." I swallow my nerves. "I just wanted to see if you guys were okay."

"Well clearly we're fine." He says.

I nod and walk out of the room as I close the door behind me. Seeing that definitely shouldn't have hurt as much as it did.

Alexandra's POV

"That was a bit harsh." I say after Steve leaves the room.

James turns back to me, holding himself above me, and resumes kissing my neck. "He'll live."

"James." I bite my lip to contain myself.

He sighs and pulls away. "I'll apologize later."

I raise my eyebrows at him and he groans. "We've been at this for hours, why don't we spend some time with the others." I chuckle at him as I tuck a strand of his hair behind his ear.

"Do we have to?" He pouts.

"Yes." I peck his lips.

He sighs and throws the blankets off of us before pulling his boxers and sweats on. He hands me his T-shirt and I slip it over my head before hopping out of bed.

I intertwine my fingers with his as we walk down to the living room. The others must be having a movie night because it smells like popcorn throughout the compound. As we turn the corner to enter the living room, the sight of everyone on the couch proves me right.

"Wow look who finally came out of their cave." Sam teases, making James roll his eyes.

"What movie are we watching?" I ask as I plop down between Nat and Wanda.

"Pirates of the Caribbean." Wanda says, shoving popcorn in her mouth as the movie starts.

I nod and chuckle at her as I cuddle with the both of them. I notice James and Steve talking quietly and raise an eyebrow. Steve glances at me as James is saying something and I furrow my eyebrows, causing him to look away.

About three-quarters through the movie, I start to feel nauseous and stand from the couch. "I think I'm gonna go to bed." I fake a yawn.

"You alright? You look a little pale." Rhodey points.

"Yeah, just tired." I lie. "Goodnight guys, I love you all."

They all say goodnight and I quickly make my way to my shared room with James. I run into the bathroom and throw-up in the toilet. I flush the clotted blood vomit but stay where I am in fear of round two.

Seconds later, I feel a hand on my back and my hair being held up. I turn my head to see a worried James and Steve crouching next to me.

"I'm fine." I lie, feeling myself get weaker with each passing moment.

I feel my eyelids starting to fall and push myself up to my feet. I rinse my mouth before walking out of the bathroom, both of the boys helping me despite me yelling at them not to.

"Thanks." I mumble as I sit on the edge of the bed. They sit on either side of me and I sigh. "I need to see Tony."

I try to stand but James stops me. "I'll bring him up." He says. "Stay there."

I roll my eyes and he gives me a quick kiss before running out of the room. I turn my head towards Steve to find tears in his eyes.

"Stop it." I warn him. "Don't you dare start crying."

He stifles a laugh and a tear rolls down his cheek.

"What did I just say?!" I wipe the tear away.

"I can't help it." He looks into my eyes.

I sigh and caress his face with one hand. "It's gonna be fine, Stevie." I smile softly. "Everything will be okay."

He shakes his head as more tears start to fall. "I'm so sorry. I- I should've been better!"

"Steve." I try to stop him but he talks over me.

"Maybe if I hadn't overreacted things would've worked out differently!" He cries. "I just.. I wish I-"

I quickly press my lips to his to shut him up. Also I'm probably going to die tonight so what the hell, right? I hold his face in my hands as we kiss and pull away after a few moments.

"You didn't do anything wrong. You're perfect and I was lucky to have any sort of relationship with you." I admit. "I'll always love you, Stevie."

Before he can say anything, the door swings open as James and Tony run in.

"What's wrong? You needed me?" Tony asks, rushing over to me. I sigh and press my lips into a thin line as I look at him. "No." His eyes widen. "No! We're so close! We've almost got it!" He begins to cry now too.

I grab his hand and pull him closer to me so that I can wrap my arms around him. He squeezes me so tight that I think I stop breathing for a little bit.

"You'll be okay, I promise." I whisper to him.

"Stop." He sniffs as he pulls away. "Don't talk like that."

I force a sad smile. "I love you, Dad."

I can see the heartbreak in Tony's eyes as he processes my words. "I love you too, kiddo."

He shakes his head at me and scoops me up in his arms.

"Tony." I weakly squirm around in his grip.

He sets me down in the lab and James and Steve run in behind us.

"I'm going to figure this out." He runs his fingers through his hair.

I sigh and James wraps an arm around me to help me stand, resulting in me giving him a look. I glance at Steve who gives me a small nod before leaving the lab. James then picks me up and brings me back to that small emergency bed in the lab.

"James." I sigh, holding his hand after he sets me down. He just shakes his head at me, clenching his jaw to fight his tears. "Can you hold me?"

"Of course." He slides onto the small bed and wraps his arms around me. I wrap my arm around him and rest my head on his chest.

We lay in silence, not knowing what to say to one another as we wait for the inevitable.

"I love you." I whisper, fighting back tears of my own.

James sits up in the bed and looks down at me with wide eyes. I stifle a laugh as I look up at him.

"Don't act like you didn't know." I chuckle.

"I.. I mean I thought you might." He says. "But I never thought you'd say it."

"I had to let you know." I admit. "Before it was too late."

He gives up on fighting them back and allows his tears to flow. "I love you too."

He pulls me against his chest and holds me tightly. A small smile finds its way to my face as I sit there, wrapped in his arms and surrounded by love.