August 19th-21st, 2012

She knew Rogers from a small touring cruise down near lake Hope a while back. Aspen was excited like most to shake his hand and chat for awhile, but time was consumed as they spoke. Sharing soft side comments and stories to one another until the ride ended. She was positive that he would not be returning for awhile, but several days later on her journey to the grocery store, she was lucky to even get a glimpse of his backside. It was familiar; tall and the shoulders broad.

She shyly crept behind him, rounding to meet his expressions. A deadened look was glazed over his predatory eyes,"Mr─Rogers?" Aspen's voice soft, not to frighten him in case he was in a sort of defensive mode. The captain blinked out of his phase and retracted towards the greeting.

"Oh-" He gasped surprised,"excuse me ma'am, I-"

He was interrupted by the blonde,"It's alright, it was rude of me to knock you out of your thoughts." Steve gave a faint exhale and looked over her before realizing.

"It's you, the girl on the cruise, right?" He questioned and her cheeks ultimately went red for her mind's sake. Doe eyes flashing down towards the cold marble.

"Yeah, Aspen."

"Wow, hey suffer girl." He jokingly added. It was a comical nickname he made comment to after she had told the story of the one time she had to undergo a seven hour isolation questioning with her accomplice. He was a college student like herself in that time period and he wouldn't stop crying over the fact that it was just a computer game. His name was Jake and in that span of time, every chance she could get she would try to speak to him he would cry out,'don't talk to me criminal! Don't talk to me!'

Of course, they were let out with a warning.

"Hello, Mr. Rogers." His slight brilliant smile slid to a line as she spoke.

"Miss, we've already been through this, please, Steve." Right, she mentally added, smacking herself imaginatively. Aspen finally peeked from her view on the ground and gave a ghost of a smile and he returned,"I was just taking a stroll, if you'd like to come with me." Quickly and some what ashamed of being so urgent she accepted the offer. They both began to walk together, chatting of their recent happenings and laughing when it seemed right. Both bonded through a massive amount of time together and grew to be friends.

Deep down, Steve was frightened. He did not know why he grew so close to her. He could put her into alot of danger, it made him incredibly ill. Aspen didn't need that kind of unwanted attention, but every time he let her out of his sight now, his eyes were desperate to make sure she was safe. A friend was almost family and that mattered to the captain.

July 4th, 2014

She grinned playfully at Katie, who stuck out her tongue in a manner of crudeness. They both lounged upon high chairs set out in the midday sun. Coffee shop buzzing with all types of talk. Aspen let her palm be the stand to her small chin, elbow becoming weak from the weight, but she didn't mind.

Katie, was a red-head, sort of petite, but bigger than Aspen. Her big green eyes always filling with some sort of mischief which got her quite the looks. They had been friends since the first grade and had been inseparable since.

"So, watcha doin' later on today? Big plan with what's his face?" Her head cocked to the side, trying to think of the lost and forgotten name. Aspen retracted the coffee that was warmly filling her mouth with flavor and awkwardly settled it onto the table.

"St-an." The lie repeated. The friendship with Steve had to be kept in worry that it might cause a slip from anyone she knew and given into the wrong hands. Even if Katie was a great secret keeper, under the highest pressure she would break,"─And no, he's out working today."

"On July fourth? What the fuck is up with that?" She hissed and Aspen made a noise to her cursing.

"There are children around here! Hello!" In that comment the reactions were sarcastic. They both let out a giggle in unison,"But maybe we could go t-"
The screams had erupted one by one from down the street and both girls flew from their spot to see what had caused such a stir,"STAND BACK KATIE!" her cry was pleading as the smoke flew up from the gunshots, bodies being sprawled immediately after each one.

"Move it, Pen!" Katie hollered and both set on foot in the opposite direction,"What's happ-ening?" Her friend said between gasped breath intakes. Aspen did not answer as they kept up their pace. Blood curdling cries were drawing louder as they kept going. People now herding into the street and into shops. Aspen peered to her right, a child and his mother were running a bit slower than they were and the mother was shot to the ground.

"No-" her voice cracked,"Katie!" The blonde vocalized. Her converses rubbing hard against the concrete as she stumbled to get to the young toddler.

"LEAVE HIM. We have to go!" The red head yelled with a viscous claim. People knocked into her causing her to stumble to the sidewalk. The child's cries were painful as he lay under his broken and bleeding mother who was suffocating on her own blood. It opened her throat, the hole showing remnants of muscle and nerve. She had made fast gurgles to slow and steady ones until her body had grown still.

She shoved her off of the small boy after claiming she was dead and helped him into her arms. He struggled and squirmed, being handled by a stranger and giving this sort of fuss was not abnormal. She ascended him onto her warm front and began to dash for it. Katie was still screaming until her face craned up, hues widened in utter terror. Aspen was at first confused, but the shadow had fulfilled her curiosity. It was covering the sides of the buildings and the faces that were wailing and dying from the wounds.

It was big, she didn't know what, but it was big. The fan like motions that came from the only side she could see were going at a great speed as it flew overhead. The guns were attached and the young blonde crouched to protect the child in case it was to fire. It shoot ahead at several more groups of people and that made her mind boggle. Why isn't it going after us? She thought in seconds of normal contemplation. Katie drew near to the pair and descended onto them as well.

"Aspen, we have to get out of here, please." The tears jerked from her eyes as she looked at her friend who was crying from the sights she had just witnessed. She nodded quickly and Katie hoisted her up with a hand. They streamed towards the sidewalks and rushed to see any opening that could be closed and keep them safe.

In the dumbest way, Katie had looked behind her in attempt to flee and to her surprise there were vehicles striving towards them. Several buses that were blocked with shades and even armored, followed shortly after. The car had picked up its pace and made a sharp turn right infront of them. Aspen stopped, the strange child locked in her embrace. Katie stepped right behind her, feeling only a sliver of hope that her small frame would protect her.

Men swung open the doors and aimed their rifles at them, yelling to step forward and no funny business. They looked to be the swat, but the red skull and six red tentacles sprawled out from it said different. They marched over to the trio and one of the bigger men took the small boy into their own hands and Aspen lunged to get to him, but felt the full force of someone hold her back made her stop. Sharp pain snapped at her wrists from the cold metal cuffs, Katie jerking and telling them to lay off.

"Hey!" The blonde cried as she was shoved into a seat on one of the buses. She looked around her atmosphere. Dark and filled with other people that were sniffling and snuggling close to one another. The doors shut, but there was no sign of Katie.

"Katie? KATIE?" She stood up and tried desperately to look for her friend. She was no where to be seen and the force of the vehicle's movement forced her to be seated again and this time, she did cry. Lips curled into a scowl, baring her teeth and eyes shutting so harshly that at any moment they could rip. What is happening? Where is Steve? -Where is, Captain America? Have faith and hope, he's out there, saving us. It's still not too late.

For a half an hour she cried with defeat and then her body shook and gave up to fall into a dreamless sleep.