Not My Choice

Second Chances

"And when do you think we should expect Hydra to come knocking on our do like unwanted house guest?" The man named Tony asked, his voice rising. 

"She can stay at my house." The who name was Clint, suggested.

"It will only draw Hydra to your family, Clint," Natasha said.

"She can stay at my old apartment in D.C," Steve suggested.

"It would draw Hydra to D.C. again. And we don't need another Hydra incident there. I think they are still trying to get over it." Natasha said. 

"We are the safest place for her right now. She needs the therapy and a home. We can give that to her while protecting her." Bucky defended me.

I sat in the corner with my knees held to my chest. I didn't like people fighting over me like this. If I could walk I would have crawled out the window already. "You guys should have just left me to die," I mumbled. I thought I said it low enough that no one heard me but apparently not.

Everyone stopped their yelling and turned to face me.

"No way, you deserve a second chance just as much as we all do. We are all where we are at because of second choices, doesn't she deserve one?" Bucky jumped in.

"I stand with Bucky. The girl should stay here." Steve said.

Clint, Natasha, Sam, and Bruce nodded. Tony shrugged, giving in. 

"Hello?" A female voice shouted.

"Upstairs." 

We waited until a shorter woman walked into the room. "I'm sorry for not knocking but Mr. Stark said to just come in." The woman said.

"Don't worry about it. Everyone this is Katherine, her new therapist." Tony introduced. 

"And does she have a name?" Katherine inquired.

"No." Everyone responded.

"Oh ....." she looked at as she didn't know what to say. "Is she going to get one?"

"I'm mean," Clint started, everyone looked around as if not knowing what to say. "I guess eventually."

"What do you want your name to be?" Steve asked me.

"I-I don't know any names ...." I said embarrassed.

"Rebecca. What about Rebecca ..... Barnes?" Bucky suggested but as soon as the words left his mouth his face turned slightly red.

Everyone stood there and stared at him in awe, I didn't understand why his face was so red. Who was Rebecca Barnes? And why was everyone freaking out? "Who's Rebecca Barnes?" I inquired.

"It can be you if you want it to be?"

"Did you just think of a name or is there a meaning to it?"

Bucky didn't respond to that but Steve did, "That was his younger sister's name, she passed away several years ago."

"You're ..... sister ..... you're giving me your ...... sister's name?" I asked in disbelief.

Bucky nodded, "If you want to anyways."

"Yes," I turned to Katherine, "Call me Rebecca, Katherine." I smiled.

~~~

"Come on, two more steps just two more." Katherine pleaded with me. She stood at the end of the two metal railings cheering me on. My arms were shaking and hands were white from gripping the bars so hard. My legs ached, this is the hardest I have pushed myself but I won't let myself give up. The last two months were awful but I pushed myself not only in my physical therapy but also in developing who I am as a person. Who I am as Rebecca Barnes. I've grown my friendships, and relationships with my new family. As for my powers, I haven't really discovered any recently but that doesn't mean I've given up on them. I know I have them, somewhere inside. My memories, I haven't gotten any new ones really, a few times I have awoken in a cold sweat from them or I'll have Bucky shake me awake because I'm screaming. It's sweet really after he wakes me up he either sits with me until I fall back asleep or he takes me on a drive to the lake until we feel like coming back. 

Back to the future, I went to take my last step but my ankle turned to jelly and I collapsed. Katherine rushed to my side and grabbed my shoulder, "Are you okay, Bec? We're done, you want your water? Is there-"

"Katie," I interrupted her, she had a problem with worrying about me as if  I were her child. "I want to do it again."

"Becca, I suggest that we stop and that you should take a break-"

"I want to do it again. I'm tired of not being able to move without those nasty crutches!" she nodded unstranding and helped me up. 

~~

"Have you gotten the results yet, Tony?" I begged, leaning over his shoulder as he typed. 

"Rebecca, I swear, if you ask me one more time-"

"You'll do what, Tony? Hmmm?" I shot him a glare that threatened him to keep going. He grumbled under his breath and turned back to his laptop. 

"Here." he handed me a crumpled up piece of paper.

"Well, you didn't have to keep it so nice." I shot him another glare as I smoothed out the paper. I took a seat next to his and quickly read through it. "Seventeen? I'm seventeen?"

"That's what science says." he leaned back in his chair and faced me.

"Wow, um, I guess you learn something new every day."

"Especially when you have no memories."

"One more question?"

"Mhmm?"

"What's seventeen?"

~~~

"Ha ha! I won! Beat that, yeah!!" I shouted throwing down my cards.

"She's a monster." Clint stared, shuffling the cards yet again.

"You did that to her," Natasha smirked.

~~

"Yes, yes, yes!" Katherine shouted. 

"I can move, I don't need the crutches anymore!" I screamed as I jumped up and down with Katherine. 

"Congrats, Becca!!" she cheered. We screamed for awhile until we had several Avengers rush in worried about me and when they found out they celebrated with us. Everyone was so excited that Tony threw one of his big parties for me. It was an amazing night! Full of dancing and parting. I'm really starting to fit in here. I love it. Couldn't be happier. Too bad there are no such things as happy endings.