ZEMO RETURNED TO THE GROUP, his demeanor calm and composed as always, though his sharp eyes seemed to take in every detail. The others followed behind him, a subtle tension in the air as they walked through the streets of the city. "Let's go ask around," Zemo suggested, his voice low, but still commanding. "Shame what's become of this place."

Valentina's gaze, however, was drawn to the sight of children playing nearby. Her eyes softened at the innocent laughter that filled the air, the carefree joy that only children could possess. She couldn't help but smile as she watched them—her heart warm at the sight. Bucky, standing beside her, caught the tender expression on her face. He studied her for a moment, unable to tear his gaze away from the way she radiated warmth.

Her smile wasn't the brightest, not the kind that would make her eyes disappear into laughter, but it was genuine—a soft, contented smile that was more than just a reaction to the children's antics. She looked almost... motherly. The thought hit Bucky like a wave. Maybe it was the way she stood there, radiating kindness and love without even trying. He couldn't help but imagine a life with her. A life where they could raise children, nurture them with the same care that Valentina showed to others. His chest tightened at the thought.

"When I was young, we used to come here for fabulous dinners and parties," Zemo said, his voice nostalgic as he looked around. "I knew nothing of the politics of the time. But I remember it being beautiful."

Valentina's smile faltered, the sorrow creeping into her expression as she thought about her own childhood. It wasn't the same for her. She hadn't had the luxury of carefree dinners or happy gatherings. She had spent her childhood in a world much more chaotic, more fractured. Her smile turned wistful, then faded completely.

Bucky noticed the change instantly. Without saying a word, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. It was a simple gesture, but it spoke volumes, grounding her in the present and offering silent support.

"I'm gonna take a look around upstairs," Sam said, breaking the silence. "See what you can find out here. And both of you—keep an eye on Zemo."

"I'll stay out of your way," Zemo added, already walking in the opposite direction, leaving the two of them alone.

Valentina turned to Bucky, meeting his gaze with quiet determination. "I'm going to see what I can find," she said, her voice soft but resolute.

Bucky's first instinct was to protest, to tell her it wasn't safe, but before the words could leave his mouth, a sudden and unexpected pressure against his lips stole his breath away. It was a kiss, gentle and brief, a fleeting moment that left him stunned. He stood frozen for a moment, his mouth slightly open in shock. By the time he regained his senses, Valentina had already slipped away, leaving him standing there, utterly dumbfounded.

"She will be the death of me," he muttered under his breath, half-amused, half-serious. His heart still raced from the surprise of it, and he found himself fighting off the fluttering feeling in his chest.

VALENTINA MADE HER WAY THROUGH THE CROWD, eyes scanning the surroundings as she noticed a little girl playing nearby. The girl's eyes met hers, and a soft pink hue dusted her cheeks. Valentina smiled kindly and made a gesture with her hand, inviting the girl to come closer. The little one hesitated for a moment but then nodded, leading Valentina toward a narrow alley.

As they reached a quieter corner, Valentina knelt down in front of the girl, her expression gentle. "Do you know Donya Madani?" she asked, her voice low and warm.

The little girl nodded shyly, eyes wide with curiosity.

Valentina smiled softly, her heart aching at the innocence before her. She gently unclipped a small heart-shaped necklace from around her neck and draped it over the girl's small shoulders, letting it rest delicately around her neck. "This is for you," she said with a quiet sincerity, before pausing to ask again. "What do you know about Donya?"

The little girl's response was brief, but it was enough—Valentina listened intently as she shared what little she knew. When the conversation ended, Valentina gave the girl one last smile and whispered, "Go on, play."

The girl scampered off, leaving Valentina standing alone in the alley, a bittersweet sense of longing settling in her chest. She watched the child's carefree run, wondering what it would have been like to have had a childhood like that. What it would have been like to have had that kind of innocence. But Valentina pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.

 VALENTINA REJOINED the group in the midst of a tense conversation. Bucky was the first to notice her, his eyes immediately seeking hers, his expression softening when their gazes met.

"What did you find?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

"The funeral is this afternoon," Valentina replied, a sense of pride swelling in her chest as Bucky gave her a proud grin, pleased by her progress.

Bucky's attention quickly shifted to Zemo, a warning look in his eyes. "You know the Dora are coming for you any minute. In fact, they're probably lurking outside right now." He pulled Valentina closer to him, protectively. "Leaving you to turn on me once we get to Karli. Hmm, I prefer to keep my leverage."

Before anyone could react, Bucky stormed toward Zemo, grabbing a nearby cup and throwing it harshly against the pillar. The loud crash echoed through the room, tension thick in the air.

"You wanna see what someone can do with leverage?" Bucky growled, his anger flaring.

Valentina instinctively placed a hand on his back, pulling him back gently, trying to calm him. "Take it easy, Bucky. Don't engage him," she urged softly, her voice soothing but firm.

Sam stood, his own frustration palpable as he stepped in between them. Grabbing Zemo's bicep, he pulled the man away from the brewing confrontation. "He's just gonna extort you two and do that stupid head tilt thing," Sam muttered, rolling his eyes. "Let me make a call."

Valentina watched the exchange, her hand still on Bucky's back, as his tension slowly started to dissipate. The small moments of calm in between the chaos reminded her that, despite everything, they were still holding on to each other. And that, in itself, was something worth fighting for.

"Let's go," Sam said with a sense of urgency, his voice cutting through the tension that had been thickening all morning. "We're heading to the funeral."

Valentina, already feeling the weight of the day on her shoulders, was zipping up the jacket that Bucky had found for her. His movements were careful, like he knew exactly how to take care of her, how to make her feel protected in moments like this. It was comforting, but it didn't ease the storm brewing inside her. She glanced up just as John Walker and Lamar arrived, the tension in the air shifting instantly.

"Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit," Walker cursed, his voice full of frustration.

Valentina shot him a sharp look, not having any patience for his arrogance. "How the hell did you two find us?" Her question came out colder than she intended, and the men around her seemed taken aback by the sharpness of her tone.

Lamar, stepping forward, answered before Walker could speak, his expression almost casual. "Come on, you think two Avengers and a blonde beauty can walk around Latvia without drawing attention?" He smiled in a way that only made Valentina more irritated.

Bucky's gaze immediately hardened at the word beauty. His fingers flexed as if to restrain himself from saying something to Lamar. He gave the man a look that could freeze anyone in their tracks, but Lamar just chuckled awkwardly, unaware of the storm brewing behind Bucky's calm exterior.

"No more keeping us in the dark," Walker demanded, his jaw set, but Valentina could see the frustration in his eyes.

 "You could start by telling us why you broke him out of prison."

Bucky, ever so calm, spoke up. "He did that himself, technically," he said, nodding at the point Valentina had made earlier, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at his lips.

Walker seemed unsatisfied with the response, though, stepping closer to Valentina. His eyes were narrowed, and there was a challenge in his voice when he said, "This better be an unbelievable explanation."

Valentina opened her mouth to retort, but before she could get a word out, Bucky was already stepping between her and Walker. The intense glare he gave Walker stopped the man in his tracks, a look that could freeze water.

"Hey, take it easy before it gets weird," Sam interrupted, noticing the twitch of Bucky's hand as if he were ready to throw a punch. "Let me make a call," Sam added, his voice steady, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Zemo, who had been standing in the background, observing the exchange with a detached curiosity, suddenly spoke up, cutting through the tension. "I know where Karli is."

The group turned toward him immediately, their focus sharp. "Well, where?" Walker asked, his eyes glinting with urgency, but a trace of doubt.

"All we know is, it's a memorial," He added, his voice steady as he glanced at the two young girls holding hands nearby. Valentina recognized one of them—the same little girl she had spoken to in the alley earlier.

Zemo and Valentina exchanged a knowing glance before they started walking toward the girls, whose innocent faces seemed like a stark contrast to the looming danger that was Karli.

"We're going to intercept her there," Valentina said softly, her voice quiet but firm.

Walker looked uncomfortable. "That means civilians, high risk of casualties," he pointed out, his concern for the safety of the people around them evident.

"All right, good, we'll move in fast. Take her by surprise," Lamar added, his tone pragmatic, though the underlying tension was still thick in the air.

"No, I wanna talk to her alone," Sam interjected firmly, shaking his head. His voice was resolute, and there was a quiet determination in his eyes that Valentina couldn't help but admire.

Walker was quick to argue. "I'm not losing her again."

Valentina caught a glimpse of the pain in Sam's eyes, a reminder of how personal this had become for him. "Look," Sam said, his voice softer now. "The person closest to her died. She's vulnerable. If there's any time to reason with her, it's now."

John's frustration boiled over. "What? No, wait, no! Stop, hold on. Stop, okay?" His voice rose, disbelief and anger mixing. "I think we're way past reasoning with her, unless you forgot the fact that she blew up a building with people still in it."

Lamar tried to reason with Sam. "Sam, you walk in there cold, she could kill you, man."

Sam was unmoved. "And if I go in hot and it goes wrong, more people will die."

Walker, not backing down, looked at Bucky and Sam with an incredulous expression. "You'll let him do this?" His voice was almost mocking. "Are you two gonna let your partner walk into a room with a Super Soldier alone?"

Bucky's eyes narrowed, his voice low but steady. "He's dealt with worse, and he's not our partner."

Lamar, sensing that things were escalating, stepped in. "Wait, John," he said, his voice calm but firm. "If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try."

The moment hung in the air, full of tension, but also a strange sense of agreement. Valentina could feel the weight of their words, but something inside her told her that Sam was right. There was a sliver of hope left, a chance to stop Karli before she spiraled too far.

"We'll deal with you later," Walker muttered, his tone filled with frustration.

"I'm sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion," Zemo said smoothly, his words almost detached. "Our associates are just up ahead."

Valentina, distracted by the little girl holding her hand, glanced over at Bucky, who was still watching her with that tender, protective look in his eyes. She felt her heart warm as the little girl pulled her along, guiding them toward a door.

"This is for your family," Zemo said to the girl, handing her a few euros, which she accepted eagerly.

Valentina smiled softly as the girl led them toward the door. The child had a look of understanding in her eyes, and Valentina could feel her gentle grip on her hand, a silent trust between them.

Karli's location was behind that door. This was it.

"Karli's in there," Zemo said, his tone almost casual, but Valentina knew better than to let her guard down. They were about to face the unpredictable.

The moment was quiet, but every step felt heavy as they prepared to enter the next phase of their mission. Valentina, Bucky, and the others stood there for a moment, the weight of the world pressing down on their shoulders, before they walked forward, together.

It wasn't just about stopping Karli anymore. It was about saving what was still worth saving.