Later that night, after she had settled Jace into his cot, Elle made herself a hot chocolate, and moved to sit on the fire escape, outside of her bedroom window, staring out towards the city in the distance. Finding this apartment was just luck, that it was literally opposite and old friend of hers, well, right now he was young, something that made her chuckle when him and his aunt knocked her door a few hours ago to introduce themselves.

Parker was adorable, blushing and stammering. From Elles recollection, he hadn't been bitten by the spider yet, he wasn't even in his teens either. May was gorgeous, even Elle was a little attracted, no wonder the kid would stammer, he must see every guy do the same in his aunts presence.

Elle had invited them in, introduced them to Jace, which May instantly had cuddles. Elle just smiled and asked Parker if he didn't mind having a lego and gaming buddy in a few years when Jace was old enough, which made the boy grin.

They talked for a little while, before the two left and Elle felt homesick again, just thinking about her Parker, fighting with the others, so she could come back. Sighing to herself, she sipped her drink, as her memories swirled in her head...

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*Morning of the time reset*

'Get you ass up..'..

The slap that followed as she was hiding her face under the pillow stung her ass cheek and she jumped... 'Damn it Cap, can I at least get a coffee first before you feel me up?..'.. She huffed, throwing the pillow off and sitting up and glaring at him from his bed as he did as she asked.

'Don't pout, I'm on it. Today's the day for the test run, got any ideas as to where you want to go?..'.. Bucky asked her as he made her coffee and she twisted her hair up off her face, securing it with one of the elastics he always kept in the nightstand for her.

'I don't know, but I don't want it to be a quick five minutes, at least a few hours. You know I won't fuck about either..'.. She yawned, standing up and stretching, as he held out her coffee for her... 'Thanks..'.. She walked over and took it, moving to sit on the couch... 'Do you think this will work? Me, going back?..'

'There's no one I trust more than you Elle, so yeah, I do think it'll work and yes I do think you can change it..'.. He sat on the coffee table in front of her... 'Whats on your mind?..'

'I'm just scared I'll fuck things up. I'm scared of letting you down, letting everyone down..'... She stared at her cup in her hands.

'Elle, look at me..'.. It took her a moment, but she did as he asked... 'You could never, let me down. Or them down..'.. He jerked his thumb to the door... 'None of us, not for one second think less of you. You are brave..'.. He reached over, taking one of her hands in his... 'Selfless, kind, determined. We know, I KNOW, you will do everything you can, to change it. Whether it works or not, that's not on you. You are one person, trying to change the future of this world, of the whole universe, that is an unbelievably big task to take on, but I know you..'.. He gave her hand a squeeze... 'You won't give up..'

She gave him a little smile... 'Guess my parents not loving me for me, kinda gave me the kick in the ass I needed huh? Always got to prove myself..'

'No. Don't give them any thought or credit for who you've become, all this..'... Bucky gestured to her... 'Its all you..'.. That made her laugh and he smiled at her... 'You got this Elle. You've spent the last few years, memorising everything, and Shuri has a drive for you that contains all the files. Also a few other things on there for you..'.. He winked at her and stood.

'I think I know where to find porn Cap, I don't need it corrupting the drive..'.. He laughed loudly as she stood, finishing her coffee and headed to rinse out the cup.

'In all the time you've been here, you've never been with a guy..'.. He called to her as she came out of the bathroom to put the cup to dry.

'Did it ever occur to you, I might prefer women?..'.. She folded his arms and he just smirked at her... 'Never mind. Come on, let's see how they're doing..'.. She rolled her eyes and headed to the door... 'Give me 5, to change and freshen up..'.. She slipped out into the hall and across to her room to get ready. It didn't even take her 5 minutes, but she was clean, and dressed in her favourite high-waisted black jeans, her black combat boots, high neck, long sleeved crop top, and her leather jacket, that used to belong to Bucky.

'You look like you're about to kick ass..'.. Bucky looked her up and down, and she noticed the frown on his face. Elle was a little confused by how he was looking at her but she shrugged it off.

'You've seen me kick ass in less. Let's move it Cap, we ain't got all day..'.. She clapped him on the arm, as they headed out to the garage... 'Bike or car?..'.. She gestured to them, but he was still lost in his head... 'Cap?..'.. Elle put her fingers between her teeth and whistled, which startled him a little... 'You ok? You're not beginning to panic about this now are you? Cause if you do, I will..'

'No, no. Not panicking..'.. He gave her a reassuring smile, and nodded to the bike... 'Let's go..'.. Bucky got on, with Elle behind him, and he kicked the bike to start, before taking off to their hidden location.

After 20 minutes, they pull up outside the old disused building, the original Stark industry. Pepper and Morgan had secured this place, ensuring they wouldn't be found out while they worked on this project.

Elle got off, and poked him in the side of the head... 'The gears are grinding in there, what's going on?..'.. He swatted her hand away and got off.

'Just thinking, if I could do a test run back, I'd go see my family. My mom, my sisters, not my dad though, he was an asshole..'.. Bucky shrugged.

'Huh..'.. Elle tilted her head at him... 'You in your younger years, now that I'd like to see..'.. She grinned and linked her arm with his, pulling him along... 'The ladies man, Sergent James Bucky Barnes! Whoo! Bet you had them all lining up to hump your leg..'.. He laughed at her words as they walked in.

'I may have been a charmer, but that doesn't mean I slept with every one of them..'.. He pulled his arm free, and gave her a shove as they made it to the main room, that held the machine.

'I know I know, I'm busting your balls..'.. She slapped the back of her hand to his chest, and headed in... 'Hello boys and girls, we ready to do this?..'.. She rubbed her hands together, trying to keep a smile on her face.

'Our simulations show that this will work, we just need a date, time and location for your test run. Is there anywhere you would like to go?..'.. Shuri asked, walking over from her station and attaching the devices to each of Elles wrists.

'Hmm... I was thinking of somewhere where I can see some dinosaurs..'.. She heard a scoff, knowing it was Parker... 'But I want to see this dinosaur..'.. She pointed at Bucky who shook his head... 'In his prime. You know, before he got all old and shit..'

'You are such a bully..'.. He scoffed at her.

'What?! Come on, if I see Rogers I'll just take him to the nearest body of water and hold him under for a few minutes..'.. Elle shrugged once Shuri was done, but she didn't miss the smirk on the young womans face as she headed back to her station.

'You can't kill him Elle..'.. Bucky walked over, and reached for her chain, taking it off her.

'Hey, leave my tags alone..'.. She slapped his hands, but he still got it off her.

'If you're going back, wherever you're going, I know you don't want to lose these..'.. She watched as he removed his own, and then swapped one of each, to the other... 'You can have them back, after the test run, and don't you dare start crying..'.. He wasn't looking at her but she bit back the lump in her throat, and blinked her vision clear.

'Yes Cap, no crying..'.. She gave a mock salute, making him chuckle.

'How are you feeling?..'.. Parker came over, sliding his arm around her shoulders, and guiding her up onto the platform.

'Shitting a brick, what do you think?..'.. Her sarcasm always made an appearance when she was terrified.

'Something along those lines, yeah. So, you know when and where you want to go?..'.. He asked, as he activated her suit, and slid two vials of the particles in the suit for her.

'Hm, Stark Expo in 1943. Let me have a few hours to look around, I might even bring you back a souvenir..'.. She smiled at him as he stepped off the platform. Her mask came up, as she looked around the room, and Shuri input her destination.

'Try not to get into trouble Elle..'.. Bucky tells her, and she flips him off.

'No promises Cap..'.. And in seconds, she was pulled through the quantum realm, everything flashing by her before her feet touched down, in a darkened room.

Her suit retracted, and Elle looked around the place, hearing a hum, distant voices. She could see some light, around a door, so she made her way over, and listened carefully. When it fell silent the other side, she opened the door slowly, and peaked out, her mouth dropping in shock, seeing a very old poster, one about joining the war.

'Holy shit it worked!..'.. She muttered to herself. Being as stealthy as she could, Elle followed the hallway left, and came to a junction. Hearing voices to her right, she went that way, trying to be nonchalant, as she walked out into a small crowd. Keeping her wits about her, Elle stayed with the crowd, until she recognised a face ahead of her and she stopped.

Right there, in front of her, was Bucky, in his uniform, and she couldn't help but gulp at the sight. Sure, she had feelings for him, the whole 'secret love' thing, but damn if seeing him dressed like that, didn't kick her in the vagina.

Keeping to the side, slipping past both him and the asshole Rogers, someone who she couldn't help but snigger at, this piece of shit gets the serum? Oh, if only people knew the truth about Steve Rogers. Elle headed down the few steps, in awe of what she was seeing, but didn't want to get too distracted. Turning to glance back, she saw the two hug, before Bucky heads down the steps a few feet from her, and over to two girls, who were giggling incessantly.

Elle couldn't help but feel a little jealous, but she stayed back a little bit, following the three for a while. About 15 minutes later, she watched from a distance as Bucky said something to the two women, and from their pouts, he was leaving them, that she couldn't help but smile. Maybe he was bored of them, or maybe he was leaving to go home, but at least the two dipshits had been dumped.

Keeping her back to them, she stared up at one of the exhibits, amused that they thought this was advanced tech, a fuelled jet pack, something she couldn't help but chuckle at, trying to imagine Sam wearing it. It was big and bulky, and probably couldn't get very far.

'I feel I should be flattered, being followed by such a beautiful woman..'..

Elles smile dropped, hearing his voice behind her. Her hands tightened on the rail around the exhibit, and she started to internally panic, maybe she could just slip off, without gaining any more attention, but he moved to her side, now leaning on the rail, that she could see him smirk in her peripheral... 'You got a name, sweetheart?..'

Elle couldn't help but huff out a laugh, shaking her head. In all the time she knew Bucky, he never once called her that... 'Got to applaud you on your game Sergeant..'.. She rested both arms on the rail, and turned to look at him... 'But its a boys game you're playing, and I only play with men..'.. She noticed the glint in his eyes, as he took a quick look around.

'Still not got your name sweetheart, yet you know my rank..'..

'You're not the only Sergeant here. I came to see my captain, and honestly, this was definitely worth the trip..'... She smirked back, and the stood up straight, giving him a salute... 'See you around Sergeant Barnes..'.. Elle turned and hurried off, feeling herself shake a little. She never actually meant to speak to him, and her nerves were getting the better of her. Had she messed up already?

Dodging around people, she spotted an exit and kept a steady pace, needing to get away. As she got close, she felt her arm get pulled and she was yanked into a darkened space nearby, behind one of the exhibits... 'I should at least get the name of the woman who was following me..'.. His breath on her cheek, as the two were tucked in close, in the shadows.

'You don't need to know me, forget you even saw me..'.. She pulled her arm free, but he caged her in again... 'Move your ass, before I move it for you..'.. She scowled at him, but he was smiling, clearly amused.

'Tell me your name, and I'll move, but I definitely won't forget you, sweetheart..'..

'Don't call me that! It's demeaning..'... She gave him a little shove, that he stumbled, and Elle slipped past him, not fast enough, that he caught her wrist, pulling her back.

'You say that, but your eyes say another thing..'.. This time he was closer, and she could feel his breath on her lips... 'Tell me your name..'

Brain not computing in anyway, Elle just couldn't think, his body close to hers, and her only thought that was rolling around, was closing that last little gap between them, but her name slipped from her lips, the name she never thought she'd ever call herself again, the one she was born with. She could see him smile in the low light, repeating her name, before he kissed her in the shadows of the expo.

Elle wanted more, but common sense kicked in, and she pulled back from him, shaking her head... 'Damn it Elle, what are you doing?..'.. She put her hands on her head, blowing out a breath. She quickly glanced to the device on her left wrist, wondering if she should just go back now, before she was pulled back.

'Well, you can come back to mine?..'... He chuckled, watching her.

'You couldn't handle me anyway..'.. She scoffed, ready to leave their hiding spot.

'I ship out first thing, come back to mine..'.. He held his hand out, and she debated about it... 'First time a lady has ever turned me down..'.. He dropped his hand when she didn't take it.

'I'm a Sergeant, not a lady..'.. Elle folded her arms.

'A woman like you? Guess I signed up for the wrong army..'.. His words made her scoff.

'Careful there Barnes, your sexism is showing..'.. She rolled her eyes, but caught him looking down at himself with a smug grin.

'You're beautiful, can't control it..'.. His gaze came back up to her, and she couldn't help but chuckle... 'Last time I'm asking, don't think my heart could take another rejection from you..'.. He feigned hurt, a hand to his chest.

'Being another notch on your bedpost, how enticing..'.. Elle smirked back at him.

'Never met a woman like you. You really a Sergeant?..'.. He slipped his hands into his pockets, leaning back against the temporary wall behind him.

'118th. I earned my right to be there. Let me guess..'.. She snapped her fingers... 'Women don't belong in the fight?..'

'Not at all what I was thinking. Hell, if women fighting, are anything like you, us men aren't even needed..'.. He chuckled... 'Nice to meet you Sergeant..'.. He gave a salute of respect, and slipped past her.

Elle bit her lip, wondering what to do. Her right hand hovered over her left wrist, but her hormones got the better of her. Gritting her teeth, and growling under her breath, she dipped out from the spot to follow him, only to crash straight into his chest.

'I knew you wanted me..'.. He winked and took her hand, leading her out of the expo.

'Two things here Barnes..'.. She said, looking around as to where they were going.

'Whats that?..'.. He glanced down at her, that damn smirk still on his face.

'First, don't ask about my tattoos, second, forget you ever met me..'..

He stopped, and looked her up and down, before staring at her for a moment... 'As long as you don't forget me sweetheart..'.. He grinned and pulled her along again, Elles heart racing in her chest, half cursing herself for this, half cheering.

😘