Bucky sighed and placed his phone back on the mattress. He'd spent the last 45 minutes trying to call his family, but there was no answer from any of them, even Mason. Wanda's phone rang, but she would always send him to voicemail. Greyson wouldn't answer the phone either, nor would Miranda. Even a call from Marlena's phone remained ignored, and Bucky wasn't sure what the hell was going on. This worried him, not only because his children were in Greyson's care, but because it was unlike Wanda to ignore a call from him or Marlena. There was something going on, something he had no idea about.

Alena then walked into the room, fresh out of the shower. Her charade as Marlena was becoming very successful, or so she thought.

After leaving Steve as Marlena only days prior, Alena had gone down to the lobby of his apartment complex where Bucky was waiting. Wanda, Mason, and Sam had disappeared for some reason Alena wasn't too concerned with, and from there she pursued a new relationship with Bucky. He was thrilled, but given the information Wanda and Mason provided him with only minutes before leaving the complex, he remained apprehensive. He trusted Wanda when she told him the Marlena they knew was not the woman he'd been spending the last few days with, but at the same time he had no reason to believe she was someone else. Since then, the two had been staying at a hotel in the city as they wondered what their next step would be.

"Still nothing?" Alena questioned Bucky with a frown. She was more than aware of what he'd spent his time doing, and although she hated it, she couldn't exactly tell him that. Marlena would have been incredibly worried were she not able to get ahold of anyone, especially with her kids gone, so that was exactly what she would be—worried.

Bucky looked up at her and shook his head. "No one is answering the phone. Not Wanda, not Miranda, not Mason, not Greyson."

"Try calling Steve or Sam," Alena suggested.

"I don't wanna bother Steve," he said with a sigh. The situation regarding Steve and Marlena was what drove Bucky's apprehension. He knew how much Marlena loved Steve, and while the news of their relationship had originally left him in state of pain, there was absolutely no denying Marlena's love for Steve. It was because of that Bucky couldn't seem to understand why Marlena would ever leave Steve, even for him. Bucky went along with it, however, though he was incredibly careful about what happened between the two of them.

Alena headed over to sit down beside Bucky on the mattress. She laid her head down on his shoulder, not even bothering to worry about her damp hair. "I need to see the twins, Bucky."

"I know," Bucky breathed out. "I do, too."

"Why don't we go to the Tower?" Alena asked. "We'll see if we can't find Wanda and figure out what's going on."

Bucky pursed his lips and stood up. "Let's do it. No harm done anyway."

Bucky grabbed the keys from the bedside table before grabbing Alena's hand. The two of them made their way down the stairs and out the door. It wasn't long until Marlena's phone vibrated inside of Alena's pocket. She stopped and took the device out. There was a text from Wanda, one that made Alena furrow her brows in confusion. She unlocked the phone and read over the message:

Can you come to the Tower? Greyson
and Miranda had to bring the twins
home. Something's wrong with
Charlie and we're not too sure what it is.
We think it's her abilities. Please hurry.

Alena looked to Bucky, a feigned expression of worry on her face. "Something's wrong with Charlie," she told Bucky. "Wanda just texted me telling me to come to the Tower."

Bucky only nodded and hopped into Marlena's car, while Alena looked back down at the phone screen to send Wanda a reply:

We're on the way!

After sending the message, Alena placed the phone back into her pocket and turned her attention to Bucky. He was speeding down the street without much thought at all. He didn't care about the speed, he didn't care about who he cut off. All he cared about was making sure his daughter was okay and figuring out what the hell was going on. He didn't know what he would do if he lost her or Jay again. The mere thought of it made him want to kill the person responsible for their disappearance in the first place, but little did he know that person was sitting two feet from him.

About ten minutes later, Bucky pulled up in front of the Tower. He didn't have time to worry about finding a parking spot. Bucky and Alena jumped out of the car and headed towards the entrance door, both with very similar agendas on their mind. Bucky was set on checking on his daughter, and while Alena did, in fact, care about Charlie and her safety, she couldn't help but feel something else was going on.

The moment Bucky approached the entrance door, he shoved it open and headed inside, only to find that it was eerily quiet. He looked around, but there was no one in sight, which startled him slightly. He wondered what happened or what was even happening. It was all so strange to him. It was all too strange to him.

"What the hell?" Bucky muttered to himself as he continued on through the Tower halls, gazing around at his surroundings for any sign of a threat.

Alena was beginning to pick up on the fact that something was seriously wrong, and the thought of it almost made her want to run, but she couldn't leave Bucky. She was the only one who could protect him, or so she thought.

"Where is everyone?" Alena asked as she and Bucky made their way down the hall and into the Avengers old recreation center. "Where are my kids?"

"They're not your kids, though, are they?" an accented voice sounded behind Alena.

The brunette spun around, coming face-to-face with Wanda, the cousin who knew too much. Alena's mouth twitched in anger as she looked at Wanda. It seemed as if the fight she wasn't ready to have was going to have to happen.

"Wanda, what are you doing?" Bucky asked the brunette. "Where are Charlie and Jay?"

"They're with Greyson and Miranda back at their mother's apartment," Wanda answered him without looking away from Alena. "They're where they belong."

Bucky furrowed his brows in confusion. "Why aren't they here? Why the hell haven't you been answering the phone?"

"I asked her not to," a new, but familiar voice sounded. "I didn't want to risk putting you in anymore danger than you're already in."

Bucky and Alena turned around to see Marlena leaning against the wall behind them, her arms crossed over her chest. The sight of her only confused Bucky, who was now looking between Alena and Marlena. Things were beginning to make sense, but at the same time, nothing was.

"What the hell?"

Marlena didn't respond to him. She only pushed herself off the wall and started towards the pair. She held her gaze on her sister, the very woman who'd been hellbent on stealing her life from her.

"Hey, little sister," Marlena greeted Alena.

Bucky was more confused than ever. "Sister?" he exclaimed, though his words went ignored.

"Let me guess," Alena groaned. "Dad let you out?"

Marlena's lip only twitched in anger, and with a simple wave of her hand, Alena was flying towards the wall. "No, actually," she answered. "I let myself out."

Alena let out a pained grunt as she fell to the floor, and she looked up at Marlena, a bright sapphire color flashing in her hazel eyes. "You know two can play at this game."

"What the hell is going on?" Bucky nearly shouted.

Marlena glanced over at him before looking back at Alena. "This is Alena, my twin sister. She's been pretending to be me while I've been locked up in Russia."

"Are you serious?" Bucky questioned, though it went ignored once more.

Alena looked up at Marlena with anger in her eyes and got up from the floor, her hand glowing with the bright blue of her psionic energy. "Everything I've ever wanted, everything I've ever dreamed of having, you got."

"That's not my fault and you know it."

"You could at least let me have Bucky," Alena chuckled dryly. "God knows I deserve him more than you ever did."

Marlena frowned and looked at Bucky. His blue eyes were filled with so much love as he looked at her. She could see it and she could feel it, and while she still loved him more than anything, she couldn't love him the way she used to. She couldn't love him the way he'd always deserved to be loved. Alena was right. Bucky deserved so much better than her, but Alena would never be that for him. She couldn't be.

"No," Marlena shook her head quickly and looked back at Alena. "You'll destroy him."

"Yes, because you screwing his best friend hasn't already done that," Alena said to Marlena, who was only growing angry with her words. The brunette started towards Marlena, more than ready to take care of the problem herself, but was forced to a stop the moment a cosmic blue barrier appeared in front of Marlena. Alena couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"You don't wanna fight me," Marlena said. Alena seemed disgruntled given the situation. She'd been completely blindsided, which was exactly what they wanted.

"Why?" Alena scoffed and looked at Wanda, who made her way over to Marlena for the sake of protecting her if the need were to arise. Wanda didn't know how strong Alena was, and while she knew Marlena was likely stronger, given her training from Hydra and her training as an Avenger, she was in no position for a physical confrontation with anyone. "You think just because you're pregnant I won't end you?"

"I do, actually."

Marlena was right, and Alena absolutely hated the thought of admitting it. There were other ways of hurting Marlena, though, and Alena knew exactly what she needed to do in order to achieve that.

"Then I'll end him instead."

Alena held her glowing hand out, and in an instant, Bucky was flying towards her. Bucky hit the floor at Alena's feet, a pained groan escaping him as he tried to push himself up. Steve ran into the room then, followed by James and Sam. Marlena took her fear-filled hazel eyes off of Bucky and turned to see who'd come in behind her and Wanda. She turned back around instantly, another cosmic blue barrier materializing behind her. She refused to let Alena touch any of them; even Wanda couldn't get through, and Marlena could hear and feel her trying.

"Don't hurt him," Marlena said to Alena.

"And what if I do?" Alena used her abilities to press Bucky harder into the floor, eliciting a pained grunt from the soldier. "I figured getting rid of him would make things easier on you—y'know, with all the guilt. Neither you or Steve would have to deal with him anymore. I just figured I'd do my big sis and her future hubby a favor."

"That's not what I want," Marlena glanced down at Bucky, who was trying hard to meet Marlena's eyes. He couldn't breathe. The sight of him struggling killed Marlena inside, and what made matters worse was that he was in this situation because of her. She'd caused him enough pain as it was, and she didn't want to do it anymore. He didn't deserve it. He deserved none of it. "This isn't what I want. But I do know what you want, Alena..."

In a single instant, Alena noticed her surroundings dissolving away beneath a bright blue hue, sending a wave of shock through her body. She released her hold on Bucky, as he, too, seemed to disappear. Sam, Steve, Wanda, and James disappeared as well, leaving the two women alone with one another inside a home only Marlena could recognize. Alena could see who she knew to be Miranda Claire playing in the living room with a little girl and little boy she was sure to be Marlena and Mason. She wondered if what she was seeing was an old memory of Marlena's, but when she caught sight of a little girl identical to Marlena running happily over to the three of them, she knew it was anything but.

"What the hell is this?" Alena asked Marlena with a heavy breath.

"The reality you've always longed for, Alena," Marlena answered matter-of-factly, walking slowly over to her sister. She watched as Miranda played with the twins and Mason, glancing over at Alena to see her reaction to the scene playing out in front of her. She was astonished but otherwise remained reserved, though Marlena could see the emotion trying to fight its way out. "Kellan told me what you two went through together. My word might not mean much to you, but I really am sorry. You should've been given the chance to lead a happy life, to be part of a family that loved you the way mine did."

With a wave of Marlena's hand, the scenery was changing yet again. This time Alena could make out both her and Marlena, though they were much older than they had been in the previous illusion. They were laying together in bed listening to music and laughing over absolute nonsense. They looked happy and comfortable, and seemed to be incredibly close with one another.

"We would've had so much fun together," Marlena said, thinking back on all the memories that could've been so different had Alena been in the picture. She was still so angry with Alena—livid, in fact—but rather than take the route of violence, she'd found her compassion and empathy to be a much more productive release. She wanted Alena to know she was understood. She wanted her to know there was a chance for her to right the wrongs she'd committed at the hands of Hydra's manipulation.

Alena shook her head and turned away, unable to handle the emotions building inside her. Everything Marlena was showing her was everything she'd ever wanted, but it'd been taken from her the day she was born. She couldn't handle how angry that made her feel. She couldn't handle knowing everything she was seeing was nothing more than her taunting imagination.

"We also would've made a perfect team," Marlena said with a quiet laugh.

The scenery changed again, and Alena turned back to see her and Marlena fighting together with the remaining Avengers back in Sokovia. Despite how different their lives would've been had they spent it together rather than apart, Marlena could not ignore her fate as an Avenger. Had Alena been in the picture, there was no doubt in Marlena's mind that something inside their hectic lives would've lead them on a path to the Avengers.

"But it's too late," Alena said, her voice barely a whisper. She watched herself pluck Marlena from the ground after she'd been knocked down by one of Ultron's sentries, and she fought the smile pulling at the corner of her lips.

"Maybe," Marlena replied. "But that doesn't mean it's too late for you to have your second chance."

"Why are you doing this?" Alena questioned her. "After everything I've done to you and your family..."

"Because everyone deserves a second chance to make things right," Marlena answered, remembering her father's words as clearly as the day he'd uttered them. "And what kind of person would I be if I didn't give that to you?"

The scene in front of them disappeared once again, this time revealing the Avengers's recreation center they'd been standing in moments before.

"Believe me, you will answer for what you've done to my family," Marlena told her, glancing back to see everyone's cautious eyes on the two of them. "But I have every intention of making sure you get your second chance at life."

Alena didn't get the chance to respond. Marlena turned away, her attention falling upon Bucky laying in the floor. She rushed over to him, as did the remainder of those left in the room, apart from James, who'd made his way over to Alena to prevent her from making an attempt at escaping. Alena couldn't move, though. She could only watch the scene in front of her unfold with a frown on her face, now regretting her actions more intensely than ever.

Marlena knelt down at Bucky's side, using as much strength as she could to pull him onto her lap. She shook him lightly in an attempt to wake him up, but he didn't budge. "Hey, look at me, Buck."

"Is he okay?" Wanda asked. She, too, knelt at Bucky's side, as did Steve.

"I don't know," Marlena answered her with a heavy breath. "He isn't breathing."

Marlena was clearly unsettled, but it was to be expected. No one was really okay at the moment, especially without the knowledge of whether or not Bucky would be okay. Marlena placed him back onto the floor and started chest compressions, but she was tiring quickly.

"Marlena, you need to take a breath and calm down," Wanda grabbed her and made an attempt to pull her away from Bucky, but she wouldn't let her.

"He doesn't deserve this," Marlena said to Wanda, her hazel eyes filling with tears. "He doesn't deserve any of this!"

With a few more compressions, Bucky finally stirred, much to the relief of those standing above him. His blue eyes opened, and once they focused on the faces above him, he started to sit up. His eyes flashed to Marlena and his expression changed immediately. Part of him saw her as a threat, but the part of him that knew Marlena Claire knew she was anything but. Bucky grabbed Marlena and pulled her in for a hug, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"You don't have to keep saving me, y'know," Bucky said to her, his voice weak.

"You know I'll always protect you," she spoke softly and pulled away from Bucky.

"Are you okay, Buck?" Steve questioned his best friend.

Bucky met his worried blue eyes and smiled softly. "I'm okay, punk."

Steve grabbed Bucky's hand tightly and pulled him off the floor. "Good, otherwise I'd have to kill you."

"Bold threat," Bucky chuckled and turned his head to James, who was still holding Alena tightly within his grasp. The anger in his eyes could not be missed as he looked at her, and he started towards her, more than ready to give her a piece of his cluttered mind. "As for you—"

"Buck, stop!" Marlena grabbed his arm in an attempt to pull him back, but he simply disregarded the gesture and continued on.

Alena made an effort to back away from the angry soldier but couldn't due to her father's strong grip. She'd seen that same fury in his eyes years ago during his time as the Winter Soldier, but being on the receiving end of that fury elicited a feeling inside her she wasn't sure how handle or escape.

Marlena made another attempt to stop Bucky, but before she could, James took the situation into his own hands. He stepped protectively in front of Alena, effectively stopping Bucky in his haste. He recognized this man, but he wasn't given the time to voice his thoughts before James spoke.

"I know you're angry, and I know she deserves whatever punishment she's about to receive," he said to Bucky. "Just please don't hurt her, okay? I've spent so many years trying to keep this from happening—trying to keep her from coming after your family—and I failed, I know, but that doesn't mean things have to end in violence. All I'm asking is that you give her the chance to show you who she really is behind the walls Hydra constructed around her. I know at least three of you got that chance, and none of you have wasted it."

Bucky glanced back at Marlena and Wanda, letting out a sigh of defeat. It was clear James was referring to the three of them and not a single one of them could deny he was right. Marlena had always known her dad to be among the wisest men she'd ever known, and after everything she'd risked to make Alena feel heard and understood, she could only hope his words wouldn't fail her. Only time would tell.