"Let's go" I nodded and started walking into the living room. I felt Eli almost shaking on my arm. I greeted those who passed me and smiled. I spotted Tony and Bruce talking near the fireplace and steered away from them. I figured Tony would overreact so I didn't want to test my luck.

I saw Steve at the bar talking to Sam and I made a B line towards them. Eli was hardly keeping up and he obviously wasn't used to large crowds. I finally reached Steve and tapped his shoulder. Before he saw me (or Eli for that matter) I pulled him into a kiss. He pushed into me and I desperately didn't want him to pull away. He finally did after a minute and he looked into my eyes. It didn't take him long to spot Eli standing behind me.

In one movement he pushes me into Sam and turns to Eli, ready to fight. "Why are you here? What the hell do you want now?" I push myself out of Sam's grip and step in between the two of them. "Steve.... please." I look around us and notice some people had started to stare. He looks shocked as I make block his way to Eli. Sam steps up next to Steve. "Y/n.... please tel me you didn't let him out..".

I smile at him. Of course I had. "Look please just hear me out." I grab Eli's hand. "I-"

Before I could explain Eli gets blasted and he falls into the bar. I spin around and see Tony with his arm still extended. "Y/n, step away."

I do just the opposite. I run up to Eli and see Nat running towards us. She jumps into the air ready to kick. I just grab her foot and strike her down. By this point everyone in either watching or concerned.

"WAIT A GOD DAMN MINUTE. PLEASE." I yell out. I turn and help Eli up and Stark looks at me: angrily. "Look, I couldn't wait to see him any longer and it's him again. I know you all aren't the biggest fans of him but please, you guys should know. That wasn't him. That was the Hydra soldier. This is Eli." I glance around to the rest of the team who are either angry or concerned.

Tony glances around. "You aren't ruining my party. Meeting room now. The whole team." He nods over to the DJ and the music starts back up.

Eli is obviously very shaken and looks terrified. I am the first one to get to the room with Ei glued to my side. We sit down on the far side of the table and Eli looks over at me. "I told you, I would only cause trouble."

Before I can respond Tony and everyone else walks in. "Damn right kid." I roll my eyes and look back at Tony. "Ok well maybe it wasn't the best idea but I had to see him and you guys would've found me and pulled me away if I hadn't come to the party. This dude is like one of my best friends, I couldn't just leave him in there. It know from experience... it's not the best place."

Silence. I look around waiting for someone, anyone to say something. Sam looks almost hurt. "How do you know it's him?" Steve questions. I nod. "He told me only he would know. Just trust me, it's him." I plead with my eyes. Steve just looks away.

"Ok well if that's it can we get back to the party?" I start to stand but I feel Bucky push me down back into my chair. I glance up at him in disbelief. "Ok well if we aren't done, something say something." I was starting to get frustrated.

Tony sighed. "I don't think we can trust the guy yet ok? You may think you know him but we don't so don't be surprised if we're cautious that's all." He seems almost worried.

Nat chimes in. "And next time, tell someone what you're doing. If it wasn't him yet, and we didn't know where you were he could had actually killed you this time."

I guess that was reasonable. "Ok solid point. Anyone else?"

Someone from behind me speaks. "Look, I know i'm causing all this trouble and I really don't want to be.. If i'm all that trouble then you can put me back in the cell or in some prison somewhere. I don't want to hurt anyone else and I'm... I'm just really sorry I never meant to do any of that."

I smile at him and grab his arm. "I know you're sorry and I know that it wasn't you before. If you're stuck in that cell then i'm going with you so.." I stand from my chair with no resistance this time and I motion for Eli to stand with me. I smile at the other as I walked out of the room and Eli just looks down at the ground and smiled weakly at the others as I drag him back to the party.

There's no meeting this time, they just take a few seconds but they eventually follow me out too. Before anything, I speed walk to the bar. I was in desperate need of a drink. I order to shots of tequila for me and just a water for Eli (he was only 20). He watches as I down my shots and then proceed to order a bottle of beer.

Everyone else is spread out throughout the room but I notice their eyes watching me subtly. I drag Eli over to the staircase in the middle of the room. We sit and drink.

"Y/n why are you doing this for me? I don't deserve any of this. Your friends don't think so either.."

I laugh drunkenly and place my hand on his shoulder. I was ashamed of it but I was a bit of a lightweight. "Listen kid, your like a brother to me. I know, and soon they will know too that you're an amazing person. Your like a brother to me, the closest I have to family. In my eyes, regardless of what Hydra made you do.... I think you deserve the world." I smile at him and feel his around surround me.

We sit on the staircases and talk for hours just catching up. Everything around us disappeared. God I missed him.

Several hours and plenty more drinks later, it was after midnight and the party was over. I'm laughing with Eli about old childhood stories when I notice Steve coming over to us. I turn to Eli and giggle. "My man is coming hehe gimme a sec." Steve reaches me and I stumble into his arms. "Hey Stevie"

He helps me up and smiles down at me. "Time for bed ok?" I nod and glance back at Eli. "Cmon bubs follow me."

Eli stands and Steve looks at me like he was concerned. I smile at him. "Trust me blondie, I know what i'm doing." He shakes his head. "Do you? You are very drunk" He laughs. I nod my head at him.

He begrudgingly agrees and starts to help me walk to my room. We reach my room and I instruct Eli to sit on my bed.

Steve passes me some pajamas. I smirk at him. "Help me get dressed Stevie?" His eyes widen in shock. I pull him into the bathroom. "Y/n.." I start changing and he looks away. Once i'm changed I pull him into a kiss and I laugh. "This is why I love you Rogers."

He smiles down at me. "I love you too Y/l/n."

I open the door to the bathroom and Eli is still sitting on the bed. I walk Steve to the door and push him out. "G'night Captain." I solute him and close the door as he laughs.

I turn back towards Eli and start to set up a air mattress on the floor. He starts to walk to it and I push him away. "No no no. Trust me, the bed is so much more comfortable. You sleep there tonight I can sleep on the air mattress."

He nods without hesitation and within moments he has fallen asleep on my feather like bed. I plop onto the air mattress and then just like Eli, I fall asleep in a matter of moments.