Hope and Dream

30.

Katie loved everything about Ireland and her heritage. Even at 13...she knew the importance of it. It was so important for her mother and her grandmother that she learn and understand everything that came with being Irish. Her grandmother taught her cooking, and her mother told her stories. Katie's favorite past time, if you could call it that, was traveling to Ireland to see her grandmother and immerse herself in the culture.

Her grandmother's cottage was in Tipperary. God, it was so green, surrounded by sheep and some of the BEST blue cheese you could ever eat. Oh, and don't even get her started on the beef that Ireland had to offer. Ireland honestly had some of the best food she had ever tasted, and because of that...her mother and grandmother made sure she knew how to properly cook it.

"Katie!" Her sing-song voice yelled over the wind.

She had to make sure she remembered what her voice sounded like. She knew there wasn't a lot of time left.
"Coming!" Katie yelled.

Taking one last look at the beautiful landscape, she turned on her heel and sprinted back to the cottage.

Katie ran inside and immediately rushed to the kitchen, grabbing the oven mitts to baste the chicken. Her grandmother gave a laugh and looked at her with warm eyes.

"Not yet." She said with that brilliant Irish brogue Katie always loved. "First we have to..."

Katie's brows furrowed before they shot up in excitement, remembering every step of the recipe.

"Make sure the potatoes are cut!" Katie exclaimed...grabbing the potatoes that were freshly picked from the garden. Her grandmother chuckled as Katie's mother sat down in a chair at the kitchen table, with a hand to her head, rubbing her temples.

"Mommy?" Katie asked.
Katie cautiously walked over, and her mother gave an exhausted chuckle. She grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"it's just the jet-lag." She said.
But Katie knew and understood differently.

Even at a young age, she knew...her mother, her PERSON was sick. She made the frost come from her hand and placed it against her mother's forehead, eliciting a sad smile.
"Thank you, my angel." She said, taking her hand.
Katie made a face as her mother brought her hands to her lips and placed a gentle kiss to her palm.
"I'll always be with you..." She whispered.
"Mom..." Katie started.
"Do you remember, what we told you...?" She asked. "About 'Hope and Dream'?"
Katie cocked her head, but her fingers immediately went to the Claddaugh on her finger.

Hope, Love, Loyalty...but most importantly...DREAM.

Her grandmother took a deep breath and sat down at the table, taking her hand.
"Hope and Dream." She said, in that oh so comforting brogue. "It's our family prayer. Hope: Hope that one day we find that love to help bring the world into focus. Bring the colors we see into VIBRANCE."
She couldn't help but smile and let a happy tear glide down her cheek.
"My life began when I first met your grandfather." She said.
"And dream?" Katie asked.

That's when Katie saw her mother give a sad smile.
"Dream you'll have a..." She started, trying to contain the tears. "Dream you can keep that love."
Katie just made a face, unsure of what her mother meant.
"Is this about Dad?" Katie asked bluntly.
Her mother gasped but tried to regain her composure.

"Your father was...IS..." She said to remain the best person in the relationship. "He wasn't always..."
"Why does he hurt me?" Katie asked.

Katie woke up in her...GOD she didn't even know what to call it anymore. She clenched her fist and smiled as the ice knuckles appeared. She quickly realized what was happening and shook her head, falling against her bed.

The memories kept coming back.

"Alright, so..." She said. "When it comes to beef cheek..."
Katie couldn't help by laugh. She absolutely loved this recipe.
"Slow roasted!" Katie exclaimed. "Red wine, Rosemary, Thyme..."
That's when Katie felt it...the icy Grip start to take hold.
"No..." Katie gasped.

She clenched her fists and drew her hands to her sides. Her Grandmother gave a sad smile and placed a hand to her cheek, warm eyes looking at her with a smile.
"Love..." she said. "You're alright. I'm here..."

She gave a nod and kissed Katie on her forehead as she placed the cover over the roasting pain, trying to control the cold and...Glacier. Her grandmother took a deep breath and grabbed her hand, wincing in pain.

Katie saw was she was doing and tried to pull back, her grandmother never letting go.
"Absolutely not." She said.
"Nana..." Katie gasped, fighting her way out of her strong grasp.

Her grandmother kept her grasp in hers as Katie's tears started flowing.
"I don't care..." She said.

That's when Katie violently jerked away and gave a wince as her back aggressively hit the counter.

"I DO!" Katie yelled, tears falling down her cheeks. "My powers...I can't..."

Katie ran her hands through her hair and looked at the tiny mirror. She had days old mascara and eyeliner on and bags under her eyes. Her hair was a greasy mess, so thank God she had a hair tie. All she wanted to do was get out of the hellhole she was in. She didn't want to hurt anyone. She didn't want to be a weapon, never.

James...

NO! She wouldn't. She couldn't help as that awful memory crept in and took hold.

"Mommy?" Katie asked.

They had spent more time in Ireland than they were supposed to...and Katie knew her father would make her pay for it. More training, more tests, MORE EXPERIMENTS!

But right now, in that moment, she didn't care.

God, her mother had never appeared so weak. Lying there, in the bed, looking so pale, colorless. Katie tried to hold back her tears.

She looked at Katie and gave a strong but weak smile at the same time. It was almost as if she was trying to protect her daughter...despite knowing how strong she was. She reached out her hand and Katie couldn't help but let out a gasp as she grabbed it, tears finally freely streaming down her face.

"I...I love you..." She said.

She gripped Katie's hand as tight as she could and took a long, labored breath.

"Mom?" Katie asked.

"I don't want to be in pain..." She said, a single tear dripping down her face.

Katie clenched her eyes shut and placed her forehead against hers, dreading what she was asking but also knowing that this is what she wanted.

"I love you more than anything." Katie whispered.

"Good night, my angel..." She said.

Katie placed her frost laden hand on her mother's temple and made her move. She gave a gasp, but then fell asleep with a smile, her breath finally coming to a stop.

Katie couldn't help the tears as she gave a gasp and cried against her mother's forehead.

******
GOD! Bucky couldn't take these labyrinths anymore. He just wanted to find her, make sure she was okay...MAKE SURE SHE WAS OKAY!

"So, you finally gonna admit it?" Sam asked.
Bucky rolled his eyes and continued...trying to not make anything obvious.
"Sam..." Bucky warned.
"I'm just..." Sam started.
"Well don't!" Bucky yelled. "Because...I know! She's the LOVE of my LIFE! Okay?! God! I just..."
Bucky hung his head in defeat and clenched his eyes shut.
"I have to find her." Bucky gasped out.

"Uh, guys..." Steve said, almost above a whisper. "We have a problem..."