OK. This is it. This story ends here and picks up again in Beacon Hills, Season 5. It's called Between The Woods. And what happened here, and elements of the story still appear there. Yeah, you'll even see some Avengers people pop up at points, I'm sure. I'm already many chapters into that story so it shouldn't be long until it starts appearing, so please keep an eye out for it.

Thanks for reading Cat's story

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Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Unless your Cat, she's mine. ANd she can only be used with permission. but like,JUST ASK.

Let's gooooooo, and please review, it is my food.

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Bucky tapped out an impatient rhythm with both hands on the arm of the chair.

"Your anxiety is showing." Cat quipped, not looking up as she wrote down the Russian words so she could pronounce them properly and say them in the right order.

"I live in constant anxiety now." He muttered.

Cat let out a small laugh. "Then you definitely fit into this era now. Us Gen Z kids are constantly full of anxiety."

"Gen Z?" He asked in confusion.

"Generation Z. It's what the current generation of kids are called."

"So what generation was I?" He couldn't help but ask.

"I dunno, the old people brigade?"

His jaw dropped in shock and she laughed.

"The Greatest Generation." She called. "That's what you guys were, the ones who fought in World War 2."

"We were pretty great."

Another laugh as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but according to your age in this time frame, you're considered a millennial, so, enjoy being lazy and eating your avocado toast."

"What the hell is avocado toast? Do people toast avocado's?"

"No they just put it on toast. They much prefer doing that over buying a house nowadays."

"What?" He looked so confused and Cat couldn't help but grin, happy that she at least got him to calm down a little and think of something else. Seemingly realizing what she had been doing, Bucky turned to glare at her.

"Nice trick. I didn't think Avocado toast could be a real thing."

She tucked the pencil up into her hair and stood up, the book in her hands. "Hey, you've lowered your anxiety levels, but everything I told you was true. Welcome to the new millennium, where things no longer make sense. Are you ready?"

Bucky immediately tensed up again as he gave a small nod. "I think you should tie me up or we should go back into the cell. You can say the words to me from outside the cell."

She rolled her eyes. "No. I want you to be comfortable, even if you were triggered, you're basically under my control." She frowned. "Which I kind of hate. Are you sure you don't want me to teach these words to Steve? I'm sure you trust him a hell of a lot more."

He shook his head. "I trust you, Cat."

She nodded as the door to her room opened and Steve slipped in, a frown also on his face.

"What's wrong?" Cat asked.

"I'm just worried if something goes wrong."

"It won't." Cat assured him. "Plus, we have everyone waiting. Wanda is right in the hallway and the best line of mental defense in case shit goes south."

"Language." Steve warned her.

Cat glanced at Bucky and the two burst out laughing as Steve blushed, scratching at the back of his neck.

"Come on, Stevie." Bucky teased. "I've heard you say lots worse."

"It just slipped out." Steve muttered. "For the love of god, don't say anything to anyone outside of here. I still haven't lived it down from last time."

"Oh that's Grade A blackmail material there, Cap." Cat said with a grin.

He looked absolutely horrified and she laughed, motioning him to sit on her bed since Bucky was already occupying the chair in her room.

"Are we ready?" Cat asked again.

Bucky gripped the arms of the chair and nodded, his face going serious as he stared straight ahead.

Cat took a deep breath and looked down at her book as she began to say the words. "Zhelaniye, Rzhavyy, Semnadtsat'." She glanced up to see Bucky's grip had tightened, his eyes clenched shut.

"Rassvet, Pech', Devyat'." Another glance and his head had dropped down. She could see beads of sweat forming on his forehead and she frowned, wondering if this was all about to go south.

"Dobroserdechnyy, Vozvrashcheniye na rodinu, Odin, Tovarnyy vagon." She finished the words and stared at Bucky, listening to his harsh breathing as his eyes stayed closed, his grip on the chair turning the knuckles on his right hand, white, while his left hand tore the fabric of that arm. Cat glanced at Steve, who looked at her, concern in his eyes and she shrugged, turning back to Bucky.

"Soldat?"

His head lifted, his eyes opening and Cat's heart sank as he looked straight ahead.

"Soldat?" She tried again.

His breathing became erratic as he looked off into the distance at something only he could see.

"Is- is he waiting instructions?" A fearful Steve asked.

Cat stepped closer to Bucky leaning down to look at his eyes, one hand came up to cradle his face but Steve grabbed her wrist before she could.

"You don't need to go into his mind again."

"I don't even know if I could again." She said with a frown. "But Steve, I don't think this is him being mission compliant. I think he's having a panic attack. Stiles used to get them a lot."

"What do we do?" He asked, sounding panicked himself.

She gently pulled her wrist away, both hands coming up to cup the sides of his face. "Bucky, I need you to breathe with me, okay? Deep breath in…. and out… with me, okay?" Cat tried to get him to listen but he ignored her, staring straight ahead, his eyes watery as his breathing stayed erratic.

"I"ll go get someone from Medical. Don't leave him alone." Steve warned her as he took off.

"Bucky, we're going to get you help." Cat whispered. "I'm sorry I made you have a panic attack but at least the triggers are gone. You're safe."

His breathing became worse and Cat groaned, thinking back to something Lydia had once told her that she had done for Stiles. It had worked then and even though a part of her felt awful for what she was about to do, she should at least try before he harmed himself.

"Bucky, Bucky, look at me." Cat whispered, "Please, look at me."

His eyes finally focused on her as tears began to fall, and he tried to breathe properly but to no avail.

"Keep looking at me." She told him, leaning closer and pressing her lips to his. He inhaled sharply but then she felt him hold his breath as he slowly began to kiss her back, his lips moving against hers as one arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

Cat pulled away, opening her eyes to see Bucky opening his, looking a little dazed as he looked at her.

"What was that?" He asked.

She gave him a small smile, her thumb swiping at the tears that had spilled onto his cheeks. "Lydia once told me that she helped Stiles through a panic attack that way. Something about holding your breath stops the attack. And when you kiss, you tend to hold your breath."

He leaned back against the chair, pulling away from her and looking a lot more composed than he had brief moments ago. "You didn't kill her for kissing your boyfriend."

She shook her head. "It was before we got together, I think. But either way, she helped him. Are you okay, what happened?"

"Flashbacks." He muttered. "The things they made me do after they spoke those words. Having you fix my brain made me remember everything, good and bad."

"I'm sorry." She honestly told him as Steve came rushing back in, a medic with him.

"You're okay?" Steve asked, sounding worried.

"I am." Bucky replied with a faint smile. "Sorry."

"How did you help?" Steve asked.

"I got him to hold his breath." Cat said. "The medic should still check him out. I- I need to go." She fled the room, not stopping to see Wanda waiting right outside the door as she ran for the nearest exit, needing some fresh air.

She hit one of the palace gardens, breathing deeply as she tried to stave off her own panic attack. Why had she done that? There was probably a better way but she had... panicked for lack of better term and just wanted to help him. Stiles was going to be so pissed. She didn't blame him and would Bucky expect more from her? Did she just ruin their friendship? Why the hell was she so stupid? She really needed to think things through.

"You worry your boyfriend will be mad."

Cat glanced behind her to see Wanda had followed her out.

"I was in the doorway when you kissed him. He should not be, you were only helping a friend."

"Stiles is going to have plenty to be mad about as it is." Cat muttered. "You didn't have to follow me, I'll be okay."

"I was no help in there."

"I shouldn't have done that."

"You helped him." Wanda argued.

"Cat."

Both girls turned to where Bucky was standing in the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck. His hand was still slightly shaking as Steve hovered behind him, looking like he wanted nothing more than to pick Bucky up, throw him over his shoulder and march him back into the room.

"I will leave you to talk." Wanda decided, walking past Bucky and giving him an encouraging smile as she grabbed Steve's hand and pulled him away from the garden.

"Are you okay?" Cat finally asked after minutes of silence where Bucky just stared at her and she tried to look at anything but him.

"Can you at least look at me?" Bucky asked.

She pursed her lips but did as he asked.

"Why did you leave?" He questioned.

She let out a low laugh. "Because I'm still a teenager who's prone to dramatics at times."

She saw him wince at the mention of her age and she silently berated herself again. This guy was physically 10 years older than her, and really like, 80 years older than her. She had messed everything up and it made her sad. She enjoyed their time together, was happy that he was her friend.

"Thanks… for uh… stopping the panic attack. I'm guessing that's what Sam was referring to about the memories and stuff."

Cat nodded. "Yeah, it's going to take some time and I know since we got out of your head, you've seemed okay for the most part. But it's okay if you're not okay all the time."

His nose scrunched up as he replayed her words in his head. "I know I'm just happy to have my memories back from before. I know pretty soon it's all going to hit me and I'm not going to be okay."

"Not right away." She agreed. "But keep it up with the therapist. Keep talking to people, don't keep it in. I was serious, you can skype, or email or text me whenever you need to, I mean if you still want to and when Steve leaves, you need to lean on him too."

He nodded with a sigh. "Can we- we talk about what just happened?"

Cat let out a small wince. "I was only trying to help you, Bucky."

"You kissed me."

"I'm sorry." She replied. "I know I shouldn't have but you were scaring me. I was only trying to help. I have Stiles waiting for me at home. Even if you weren't like 80 years older than me, physically you still got like, what, 10 years on me? Not to mention I'm still not 100% convinced that anything you think you like about me is brainwashing on my part. Also, I still need to go home and finish high school, how would that even work? You know if something was going to, which it isn't, because Stiles. Oh god, he's going to kill me, and try to kill you, then you'll just kick his ass and I'll have to come back from the dead and beat you up for doing that. And oh my god this whole thing just got too messy. I'm so stupid

"Are you done?" Bucky asked with a small smirk, trying not to laugh at her babbling.

She shut her mouth with an audible click and glared at him.

"You're right and I was just about to tell you everything you said to me, minus the brainwashing part. You're my friend, my first real friend in the future. Steve doesn't count, he was my friend from before. I just wanted to make sure things weren't awkward between us. I mean, it was a pretty decent kiss, I guess-"

"You guess?" She interrupted him, moving closer to him."Excuse me? I'm pretty sure that was your first kiss since world War 2 and I think it falls under a little more than decent."

He shrugged. "I mean, it was okay, back in my day-"

"You're dating yourself again, Grandpa. Just admit I was awesome and we can stop this whole awkward conversation."

He laughed, reaching out and pulling her into a hug. "I'm gonna miss you Cat."

"So we cool?" She asked, wrapping her arms around him.

"You kids and your language." He muttered against her hair. "Of course we're cool. I guess that means it's time, huh?"

She pulled away to glance up at him with a small smile. "It's almost time."

... … …

Cat yawned as she walked up to the door of her house after the trip from Wakanda. T'Challa had been nice enough to charter her a flight home and with the Wakanda tech, her flight had been a lot shorter but jet lag was still kind of a bitch.

And she already missed her new friends.

She hated that she had spent so long unconscious. God only knew all the great things she could have learned and talked to Shuri about. The tech they had was amazing but both the King and Princess had told her she was welcome back at any time. She would have loved to stay longer but she wanted to get back to Beacon Hills and check on her friends before heading to Star City if she was needed. Felicity wasn't replying to her emails and Cat didn't have a phone yet so who knew what was going on.

Saying goodbye to everyone else had been tough though. Her and Wanda had a chat before she left and Cat had showed her all the books from their descendants that T'challa had shown her. The Scarlet Witch had been super excited and promised to call Cat once she had read through everything. Their powers were a lot different but they were excited knowing they were connected in some way, even if it went back hundreds of years ago.

Sam, Clint and Scott had all hugged her and thanked her for their help before Steve had pulled her away from everyone to talk to her.

"I can't thank you enough for what you did for Bucky." He began

"You can stop thanking me, I'm just glad I could help." She placed her hand on his arm, giving him a very serious look. "The Bucky Barnes you grew up with is still in there but he's way different now and you have to remember that Steve. He's been through more than the rest of us combined and he's going to have his good days but there are going to be a lot of bad days."

"I know," Steve said with a sigh. "I'm not leaving him here alone just yet. I'm going to help how I can."

"But don't treat him with Kid gloves. I've seen the memories, I know how much you hated it when people did it to you, don't do it to him."

Steve looked shock. "You saw the old me?"

"Lots. Bucky has so many memories of you. Don't look so surprised."

He grinned, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I'm not, but it's nice to know there's someone else out there now who knows the old me."

She snorted. "You had anger issues. You fought a lot. I feel like everyone pegged Bucky as the troublemaker but he was the science nerd, you were the one always dragging him into things."

Steve's face flushed. "Not always."

"She's completely got you pegged, Pal." Bucky said with a grin, walking up behind Steve and slapping him on the back. "Maybe one day the world will finally see that Captain America isn't all All American Apple Pie."

"Shut up, Jerk." Steve mumbled, pushing his shoulder. He turned back to Cat. "I'll let you guys say goodbye. Again, thanks for everything, Cat."

She gave him a lazy salute, to which he rolled his eyes, leaving Cat an Bucky alone.

"So you're actually leaving me, huh?"

"Had to happen some day." She replied with a grin. "I'm just a phone call away. You know, when I have a phone again, and well- and when they give you one. You know what, just skype me."

He laughed. "Skype me when you get home. I'm sure everyone will want to know you're home."

"You gonna be okay?" She asked.

Bucky glanced behind him where Steve and his Avengers stood. "I'll get by. I think you made sure I had a great support system."

"I only threatened them a little bit." She cried. It was true she had given them all a lecture on helping and supporting Bucky. Sam, who Bucky had told her hated him with a fiery passion had even backed her up, surprisingly, although she did find out after, he worked with a lot of veterans that had PTSD.

"You terrified them." Bucky said with a smirk. "I heard Scott asking Wanda if you could really kill them halfway across the world with only a thought and Clint wondering if you would really bite them."

"I'll let them keep wondering." She replied with a satisfied grin.

"Also-" His face went red and Cat tilted her head to the side in silent question.

"I know this is dumb but I want you to have this." He held out his hand, his favourite knife held out to her.

"Aw, Bucky." She squealed, taking it and throwing her arms around him.

"Why would you give her a knife?" Scott asked in disbelief, "She's terrifying enough."

"This is your favourite knife, I can't take it."

He shrugged. "Hold onto it for now. I'm not going to need it for a while. Who knows, maybe I'll try the village life, get some goats, start a farm."

"Name your sassy goat Steve." She told him with a grin, holding the knife up in between them. "This is going to come in handy so much in Beacon Hills."

"And that is sufficiently terrifying." He pulled her into another hug. "You should go before I talk everyone into forcing you to stay so you don't have to deal with your fucked up town."

"You kiss your Mother with that mouth?" She teasingly asked.

He rolled his eyes as he pulled away. "You started that. Thanks again for everything Cat. I don't think I can ever repay you for it."

"Lucky for you I don't expect you too. I know HYDRA fucked you up good but just remember, sometimes people do things because they're good people and because it's the right thing to do. I'll skype you when I'm home, Bucky."

She went up on her toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled down at her as she used the knife to lazily salute to the others before getting onto the jet. She was going to miss them but was so glad she was going home.

Now, Cat unlocked her front door and let herself in, dropping the small bag she had in the front hall. She had left so many weapons, clothes and her phone in Germany and she knew it was going to be a bitch to replace it all. With a sigh, she moved into the living room, coming to an abrupt stop when she saw the exact bags she had left in Germany were now in her front room. But who would have done that? Maybe Peter had made sure it was returned to her because she knew Tony would have probably thrown it all out the Hotel Window. She guessed she could kiss going to MIT goodbye, Tony Stark would have enough pull to make sure she didn't get in there, hell he'd probably make sure she didn't get in anywhere. Well she could always become one of Steve's Avengers. Career Goals.

On top of one of the bags was a padded envelope and she picked it up, opening it and let out a small whoop of joy at seeing it was her phone. She would have to call Peter and thank him but first she wanted to call Stiles and tell him to come over. She had missed him, a lot, and who knew maybe she would get up the courage to tell him what she had done to everyone's minds.

The moment she powered on her phone, it began to ring and she hesitantly answered the video call from the unknown number. All she could see was the top of a head. The hair was dark brown and she was pretty sure they were male.

"H- hello?" She hesitantly called out.

The head looked up and Cat gasped to see Tony Stark on the other end.

"Finally. What the hell were you doing in Wakanda for so long?"

Cat's eyes went wide. "Where, what now?"

"Eloquent." He dryly replied. "yes, I know where everyone is."

"But you didn't follow us there?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "Thought about it but I took some time to think."

"Why was your phone set to call me the moment I turned it on?" Cat wondered.

"I told you we had to talk about school after you graduate."

"I figured that was before Siberia happened. Like, I'm surprised there's not a guard waiting for me to haul me off to jail. I'm surprised you're not straight up threatening to kill me."

Another eye roll. "Like I said, had time to think and finally read your file and adventures you've had in the past few years. If I had time before all this, I would've seen what you did, coming miles away."

"So you're not mad?"

"Livid. You tried to kill me."

"I would never have killed you." She cried. "Even after I went all wolfy because you shot my shoulder off, I wouldn't have killed you. I never would have let them kill you or seriously maim you either. I did what I thought was right."

"Come on Cat, he killed my parents."

"Like he had a choice?" Cat snapped before her features softened. "Don't think I don't sympathize that you lost your parents, that they were murdered and it was awful. I've had enough of that in my life that I totally get it but you can't blame the weapon. You don't blame a gun for killing people, it's the person behind it. Likewise, Bucky was the weapon, and after getting to know him and sifting though his memories, I know that if he had even an inkling of what was going on and the ability to stop it, he would've burned HYDRA to the ground. He's as much a victim as your parents are.

"Sifting through his- what?" Tony looked confused.

"Yeah, I went into his brain to remove the triggers and return his memories to him. He's not a bad guy."

"Like with Wakanda technology?"

She shook her head. "I went in the Seer way. I removed the bad stuff HYDRA did but it fucked him up good."

"I didn't call to argue about this." Tony muttered.

"You apparently called about my higher education."

"Smart ass." He muttered. "You know, if I put yours and Parkers intelligence together with his politeness, you'd be the perfect kid."

"Is he okay?" Cat asked.

"He's fine. Happy's in contact with him. He might be mad at you, I don't know, I wasn't really listening." Tony shrugged. "Anyway, Yes, MIT will probably be sending you an acceptance letter, thanks to your transcripts and my glowing recommendation letter and then you'll get an offer for a Stark foundation Scholarship."

"I don't need one." Cat said.

"Come on, Kid. MIT is the perfect place to help you flourish." An exasperated Tony replied.

Cat laughed. "No, I'm all for MIT. I don't need a scholarship. Give it to someone who can really use it."

"You're an emancipated minor, how are you ever going to afford University?"

"You didn't get that part in my file, huh?"

"FRIDAY." Tony yelled. "What is she talking about?"

It was silent for a few moments before the AI spoke. "It seems Cat Danvers was left a small fortune by her Mother and grandmother for when she turned 21. It was released earlier this year by Oliver Queen's Lawyers and moved into several different accounts set up by Lina Calhoun, formerly Cat Danvers."

"Of course." Tony muttered. "You're very good at hiding your tracks, I'll give you that."

"Protecting myself from my insane Father." She explained "He tried to kill me once, maybe twice. Possibly killed my mom, maybe, I thought so but that's a whole 'nother confusing story. Thank you for MIT, I won't let you down but please give the scholarship to someone who can use it."

"Fine." He muttered. "Let me know when you get it."

"I will. You didn't have to do all that but thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, Kid. Don't think I'm not doing this for selfish reasons, completely selfish reason. Working at Stark industry, selfish reasons."

She let out a soft chuckle. "Of course. Can I ask you something though?"

"Maybe."

"There's been talk about the airport incident but beyond mention of the one in purple and a video I took off youtube, there's been no mention of me. Why? And why wasn't anyone here to arrest me?"

"Oh, yeah, General Ross is pissed about that. He's mad I brought in an unknown superhero who wouldn't remove her mask or give up her identity. So he's pissed. Moreso when you disappeared with Barnes and Noble."

Cat let out a loud snort of laughter. "How long you been saving that one?"

"Too long." He admitted. "Also, nice handiwork on the prison raft. To be fair, I didn't know the were going to send them there."

"You know they weren't going to end up anywhere good." Cat softly said. "Thank you, though, for keeping me out of everything."

He nodded, briefly looking away from the screen. "You and Parker are just kids. I shouldn't have brought either of you in but I was desperate. I'm doing what I can to keep you both out of it."

"Thank you." She told him again.

"I'm still pissed you turned on me."

"My visions want what my visions want. How's Rhodey?"

He sighed. "Not good but I'll get him walking soon. Speaking of, I need to go help him. Look after yourself kid, and keep me updated and try not to do anything stupid, or I'll start calling you Rogers."

Cat smiled. "I will. I'm truly sorry how it all went down, Tony. I truly am. I was only doing what I thought was right."

"So god damn moral." Tony muttered. "I'll talk to you later, Kid."

He hung up and Cat fell back against the couch with a small sigh. Tony went out of his way to, not only protect her and her identity but get her into her number one school choice, but why?

A part of her wondered if she brainwashed him too. She should've been arrested, or outed to the world at the very least.

There was only one thing left to do now. Tell her friends and hope they didn't get rid of her themselves.

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