Alexandra's POV

After my commercial flight, I take a cab to my neighborhood and tip the driver before getting out. I check my surroundings as I walk the rest of the way to my apartment, carrying my duffel bag on my shoulder.

As I approach my door, I notice that the main lock has been broken and set my bag down before investigating. I silently open the door, peeking in.

I walk around the apartment stealthily, checking all of the rooms. All of my tech seems to be here. Nothing is trashed or moved from where I left it. Shrugging, I turn back to the door to get my bag and nearly scream as I turn smack into someone's chest.

I jump backwards and get ready to fight but look up to see Steve standing in front of me with him arms crossed. I lower my hands and abandon my fighting stance.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"I'm the one asking the questions." He states, grabbing my duffel bag before closing the door and using the unbroken locks on the door to keep it closed.

He gestures to my table and I take a seat. Steve sits across from me and by the look on his face I can tell he's not only angry, but also hurt.

"Where have you been?" He asks, sitting forward in his chair.

"Oh, y'know... Around." I avoid eye contact.

"Ally." His stern voice causes me to look up. "Why haven't you returned any of my calls? What were you doing in Venice? You could've gotten hurt!"

I sigh and look down. "When I met with Fury that one day, he told me that he knows everything." I say. "Everything about my past, who I am now, even my parents."

I look up at Steve to find his eyebrows raised.

"It was a lot to take in. I wasn't ready to go back to work without having time to process everything." I explain.

"But it's been over a week!" Steve says, his tone gentle yet concerned. "It couldn't have been that bad, didn't you already know about your past?"

My emotions start to build inside of me and I take a deep breath to calm myself. "My father isn't dead."

Steve's eyes widen. "Do you know who he is?" He presses, overstepping a boundary. He must realize it by the way I glare at him. "Sorry.. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

I don't respond. Instead I stare at the floor.

"If you're ready to come back, everyone misses you." He says.

I let out a soft sigh. "I'll be there tomorrow."

Steve tries to hide the grin on his face but fails miserably. He stands from his seat and hugs me before showing himself out.

At least tomorrow is Wednesday, I only have to deal with Tony for two days.

Bucky's POV

"Why are you so tense?" Rhodey asks Tony as we all sit in the living room.

"A lot on my mind." Tony replies simply.

No wonder he's out of it, he almost died. I see Steve walk down the hall and decide to follow him. He disappeared for a while after we got back. He's probably worried about the fact that Ally was in Venice.

I knock on his bedroom door and he yells for me to come in.

"Hey pal." I close the door behind me. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah." He sighs. "I went to see Ally."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What? How?"

"I might've ambushed her in her own apartment." He rubs the back of his neck and I can't help but laugh.

"She was probably terrified. She's good at recognizing an unwelcomed presence." I tease.

"It didn't help that I broke the lock on her door so that I could get in." He laughs.

There's a brief silence before I speak again. "So how'd it go? Is she coming back?"

"Yeah, she'll be here tomorrow." He smiles.

I decide not to ask too many questions since it's not my business and leave Steve to do his thing. I return to the others to find them laughing and joking around with one another. I decide to join in on the fun for a bit before heading to bed.

---

Alexandra's POV

My alarm clock goes off at six o'clock, as usual, and I hop out of bed to start my day. After showering, wrapping my torso in a fresh compression bandage, and getting ready, I eat a quick breakfast before making my way to the compound.

With each passing second, my nerves become more and more prominent. Shaky hands, nausea, sweating, and thoughts of doubt all tell me to turn around and go home.

Eventually I park my car in my designated spot outside of the compound. I take a deep breath, anxiety taking control of my mind, before walking into the building and sitting at my desk.

The first few hours of the day go by without any encounters and I begin to think that today might not be as horrible as I anticipated.

"Ally?" I hear Nat's voice and look up from my paperwork. "You're back!" She smiles as she comes over to hug me. "When did you get here?"

"I've been here for a few hours." I chuckle, hugging her back.

"What?! Does anybody know?" She asks, I shrug. "I was just about to head up for lunch, why don't you join us?"

"Oh, no, thank you Miss Romanoff but that's really not necessary." I wave her off.

"Call me Nat." She winks. "And I insist." She grabs my hand and pulls me up the stairs.

As I step into the dining area with her, all eyes turn to me. I make eye contact with the one person I've been dreading to see and quickly look away.

"Did you guys know Ally was back?!" Nat smiles.

Everyone says hello--everyone but Tony, that is. Instead he keeps his distance and observes.

"Don't mind him, he's a bit shaken up from our latest mission." Bruce says, excusing Tony's behavior.

"Well, I've got some work to do so I'm going to head back down. It's nice to see you all again." I put on a fake smile and turn on my heels.

Why didn't he say anything? I thought he had a thing for dramatics. Maybe he doesn't want anything to do with me.

I sit at my desk as my thoughts continue to eat away at me. Once the time reads 5:00 I gather my things and rush to my car before anyone can stop me. I can't wait to get home and have a good cry.