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Beverly sat at her desk in D.C. office of SHIELD. Her ruby red locks were pinned up in braid bun a few stray locks fell over her face. Her jade colored eyes looked at the photo that where on her desk. All the photos she looked nearly the same age like they were taken within year times but they spanned decades. She had stop aging on September 30 1943. She from day forward had the ability to heal which paid off with attempts on her life because of her position at SHIELD, with Peggy in nursing home, Howard dead, Colonel Phillips died as well. That left her as the Head of SHIELD. But healing had come terrible price watching everyone you care about die as you remained unchanged. The first photos that caught her eye it was the most recent of her and Tony Stark when he came out as Ironman. The horror of two weeks ago was still fresh watching him fall through the wormhole was still too much for her. The next photo was of her Tony as baby and Howard. It brought so many memories.
Beverly sat in large hospital room. They wall were painted muted shade of yellow. Maria, Howard's wife had just given birth to healthy baby boy. She was now sleeping in hospital bed. Howard came over to her with the small baby in his arms. He had a huge smile on his face as he gently shifted the baby into Beverly waiting arms.
"What do think Bevie? Doesn't he look like his old man?"
"He is prefect, Howard" Beverly said looking down at little baby in her arms.
"Maria and I would like you to be his Godmother"
"Are you sure?"
"We could think of no better person for the job"
"What is his name?"
"Anthony Edward Stark but I think we are calling him Tony"
"Hello, Tony I'm your godmother" Beverly said softly.
Beverly came out of her memories rubbed her hands on her face looking at the picture of Peggy, Howard, Colonel Chester Phillips, and her when they founded SHIELD. She remembered the day that they lost Steve.
Peggy came into the room where Beverly and Howard were at. Howard was trying to console Beverly. Who, was still reeling with loss of Bucky now losing Steve was too much for her. Peggy knelt down next to Howard. Howard moved off letting the only other woman in the room handle the crying woman. Peggy brown eyes met Beverly's jade green color eyes rimmed in pink.
"You loved him" Peggy said softly.
Beverly looked down biting her bottom lip. Peggy sat down next to her taking Beverly hand.
"It doesn't matter that I loved him. He chose you." Beverly said looking up at Peggy's face.
The intercom buzzed waking Beverly from her memories. She pushed the button on the table.
"Yes, Alyse"
"Fury is in root Ma'am he will be here within ten minutes."
"Thank you Alyse." Beverly said
Beverly eyes fell on the photo taken of her Bucky and Steve at the world fair. It was black and white.
Beverly was waiting for a bus to take her back to her home when she noticed a taxi heading toward the world fair. She could swear that she saw Steve and Bucky with two young ladies in the taxi. She shook her head and waved as it passed. Bucky saw her standing there with her school books in bag. She was in nursing school. She had grown up with them she lived just a few apartments down from Steve.
The taxi pulled to a stop. Bucky got out paying the man. He helped the girls out of the car before turning to Steve and the ladies.
"Excuse me for a moment ladies" Bucky said.
Bucky came up to her at the bus stop and picked her up off the ground. That made Beverly to squeal as he put her back on her heeled feet. She playfully hit him on the shoulder once she was on the ground again.
"Bucky what are doing?" Beverly asked.
"I could ask you the same thing Annie" Bucky countered.
Annie was Steve's and Bucky's nickname for Beverly, most because she did not like her name and Anne was her middle name. She was named after her great aunt whom she did not get along with at all.
"I'm going home Bucky" Beverly answered.
"No you are not." Bucky said as he grabbed her arm.
Beverly was being dragged along by Bucky toward the world fair. She shook her head.
"Bucky, I seriously doubt your and Steve's dates will like me being there" Beverly said
"Come one Beverly it will be fun. Before, we get shipped off me with my unit and you with the nurses." Bucky said.
"You know I hate when you call me Beverly, James" Beverly countered crossing her arms over her chest.
"Come on Annie I didn't mean anything by it." Bucky said as he noticed her break into a grin and laughter.
Steve shook his head when Bucky came up with Beverly. She gave him a huge smile. She would do anything to be in the same room as him.
"Annie, Bucky didn't tell you were going to be here" Steve said
"Steve…" Beverly started.
"She could not, not see me off" Bucky answered for her.
They watched Howard with his flying car. Steve and Beverly looked on in amazement. Bucky was with them and the two lovely dates that Bucky had arranged for him and Steve.
Beverly had met Howard in passing at the library. She was studying for one of her nursing exams when she noticed the time. And quite literally ran right into to Howard Stark. He was quite taken with Beverly for her intelligent and her beauty. They had become fast friends. He drove her home that night Howard had met her father whom work at factory. It was because of Howard she was allowed to continue her nursing school.
Now, that Beverly was there she did not want to leave the fair this was all so fascinating to her. The two girls looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but there. She could hear them talking about wanting to dancing. Beverly eyes were looking around the fair at all the science stuff that she could never get to do.
"Hey, Steve the girls want to go dancing you comin'?" Bucky asked.
"I think I will stay here with Annie, Buck" Steve said looking over at Annie.
"You're sure?" Bucky asked.
Steve nodded and looked over to Beverly. Bucky wrapped his arms around both girls as they walked off to go dancing. Beverly gave Steve a reassuring smile as she took his hand. They walked around the fair for a while.
"You could have gone with Bucky, Steve I would have been alright." Beverly said
"I don't have much luck with dames talking to them let alone dancing" Steve stated.
"And what am I?" Beverly asked a little annoyed with laughter in her voice.
"You're different Annie. I mean we have been friends for since we were kids." Steve said
Beverly looked down for a moment. Steve took her hand when he noticed she looked sad.
"Hey, are you going to be okay?"Steve asked concerned about her.
"Yeah, our world is just changing Steve"
"Yeah it is. I think I'm going to try to enlist again"
"Steven." Beverly scolded playfully.
"Beverly" Steve countered just as playfully.
"Good Luck, you are destined for great things Steve never doubt that"
"Thanks Annie" Steve said as he head off.
Beverly walked over towards the stage where Howard was at. Howard noticed her quickly coming over to her.
"Bevie it worked. It flew mind you for ten seconds but it flew"
"I saw Howard." Beverly said her eyes lingering on Steve as he headed towards the building where the enlistment was happening.
"That's him"
"Yeah he doesn't see me that way"
"Then he is blind. I mean you a beautiful."
"Thank you Howard"
"Come on Bevie there someone I want you to meet" Howard said dragging her through the crowd.
Howard led her into the enlistment building where he knew Dr. Erskine would be at. Howard left Beverly standing by the nurses' station when he found Dr. Erskine. Howard came back with Dr. Erskine.
"This is the dame I was telling you about Abraham. She is brilliant. She helped me with flying car. I swear she could be doctor if the world let her. Beverly Kelley met Dr. Abraham Erskine"
"A pleasure to meet you Doctor; Howard is exaggerating. You can all me Bev if you like." Beverly said sticking her hand out to shake his.
"The pleasure is all mine," Dr. Erskine said kissing the top of her hand. He looked her up and down for a moment before offering her his arm. Howard was hitting on one of nurses which per usual for Howard. "It's always a pleasure to meet a brilliant mind young woman. You remind me of my daughter. Howard tells me you are a nurse."
"I am or I will be in a week. I have orders to be shipped out to Germany to medical hospital to help with war effort in two weeks" Beverly stated.
"I need a nurse for my venture. I'm sure I can get your order changed if you are willing."Dr. Erskine offered.
"It would be honor to work with you sir." Beverly said
The intercom buzzed again it was followed by Alyse voice. Beverly wiped tears found her eyes as the door opened. She put on stony face as she looked up at Fury.
"You wanted to see me Director Kelley" Fury asked.
"I have two words for you I want you to explain why they are in production when I specifically told you no...Phase 2. Ring any bells Fury?"Beverly asked.
"It was best idea at the time"
"You never saw them in action…I did that why I said no. But that's not the real reason I called you here."
"Why did you call me here Ma'am?"
"How is Agent Coulson?"
"He's doing better"
"That is good to hear. When he recovers he will have his own team."
"You are giving him his own team."
"Technically you are. This is not easy for me to say Nick. You were right. I see that now, about the Avengers. I'm too much of pacifist for this job." Beverly said
Four hours later, Steve, Tony and Bruce were cleaning up a level that the alien destroy. Steve was helping to remove move some of the heavy metal. Bruce was shaking his head looking at one of screens. Tony stood over another screens trying to explain to Steve where the piece that he was moving needed to go. A song started to play that Bruce and Steve were shocked that Tony knew. The song was my funny Valentine; sang by Frank Sinatra. Tony quickly looked down and saw Beverly face on his phone. He picked it up before; Steve could come over to see who was calling Tony. Tony knew that Beverly had not been present when Steve awoke and not seen him since he was lying there still recovering for the ice. To Tony's knowledge Steve had no clue she was still alive or looking as young as he did.
"Bevie, what can I do for you?"
"Anthony please tell me you haven't not forgot that I was coming to see you"
"Is that today?"
"Tony it is fine. I will be in town for month. I catch you sometime in that time period. If you anything like your father I'm sure whatever it is, is important."
"Are you at the airport…? I'll be there in a few minutes"
"Don't bother Tony; I'm in root to an air force base. I'll have Agents Romanoff and Barton pick me up"
"You sure, Happy is on speed dial"
"You can make it up to me by meeting me for dinner tonight; you know which restaurant."
"Sure, thing Bevie."
"Don't call me Bevie"
"Why"
"It's creepy. Your father called me that and at one point he wanted to sleep with me."
"I give you that Bev" Tony said with a disgusted look on his face.
"Better"
"Where are you staying for this month?"
"I don't know probably in Brooklyn in my old apartment."
"That shithole no offence, no way; you can stay at the Tower."
"You really want me at the tower Tony?"
"Sure, Bev what kind of Godson would be if I didn't offer you place to stay"
"A smart one" Beverly answered with laughter in her voice.
"I love you too Bevie"
"I love you Tony…I'll see you soon."
Tony hung up the phone. Steve and Bruce looked at him oddly. There was question hanging in the air.
"I thought you were seeing Pepper" Bruce asked.
"I am." Tony started. He looked over to Steve and Bruce. He sighed placing the phone down. "She's my godmother end of story. Capsicle, that is in the wrong spot for the sixty-six time" Tony answered annoyed and changing the subject point to one heavy pieces of equipment.
A SHIELD SUV pulled into the base right as Beverly departed the plane. The soldiers saluted her; a few looked shocked. They were new. She wore cerulean color dress looked right out of the forty with white peep toe pumps and white blazer with SHIELD badge on the breast of jacket. Clint Barton came over to her offering her his arm.
"Director Kelley"
"Clint you can call me Beverly as of today I am just Beverly Kelley."
Natasha walked over to the pair smiling at Beverly whom she had taken to since she was recruited for SHIELD. Beverly claimed that was because she could see some of herself in Natasha or Tasha as Beverly often called her.
"What's this hear about you just being Beverly Kelley?" Natasha asked.
"It is a trail, Tasha. A month; if the world turns on like I think it will. I feel that my time with SHIELD has ended."
Clint and Natasha looked in shock. To their knowledge she had been a part of SHIELD since the beginning.
"It won't be SHIELD without you!"Clint and Natasha said at the same time.
"As touching as that sentiment is. I am sure it will still be SHIELD without me. Besides, Fury is ready. He was right about the Avengers." Beverly said
It was SHIELD without Howard; it was SHIELD without Peggy. It was Shield without Colonel Phillips. It would SHIELD without her. It was time to live her life. Clint took Beverly's bag from her one hand. Natasha took her other arm.
"You didn't agree?" Natasha asked.
"I had no doubt that; you, Clint, and Steve in time could work like a team and work together well. I know Tony better than anyone and trust me he doesn't work well without other."
"I could a have told you that" Natasha commented.
"Then add Thor to the mix, who doesn't understand the world we live in and is pretty much a god. And then we have the Hulk which is another can of worms. On paper I didn't see it working." Beverly stated.
"Bruce is not that bad," Natasha said.
"Then I cannot wait to meet him. I'll be staying at the tower." Beverly said
"Are you ready for that?" Natasha started to ask.
"You know Steve is living there right?" Clint asked.
"Tasha I'm as ready for that as I can be. So how's your relationship Tasha, Clint?" Beverly answered as they walked to the car.
"You know about us?" Tasha asked
Beverly gave Tasha look that read "really". Clint went on to answer Beverly question. Beverly smiled half heartedly listening to his answer. All the while, in back of her head images of Steve played. As the decades past her feeling for him had not faded like she thought they would. But she knew she needed to move on with her life. Nearly having to bury Tony was tipping point for her.