Alright! Chapter two! Please feel free to review, I would love some feedback as to what you all think of the story.

As per usual, I do not own Marvel, just my OC's

Thanks!

SF

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Born to Die

Chapter Two:

Follow my Feet

Follow my Feet - The Unlikely Candidates

"There's a fork in the road in front of me,

At the crossroads of identity.

The Devil is standing to the left.

He says 'Either way, they both lead to death.'

And the high road's steady and steep,

And the low roads easy and deep.

Guess I'll follow, follow, follow my feet.

Guess I'll follow, follow, follow my feet..."

oooooooooooooooooooo

1942

"You don't have to do this you know, no one's forcing you. You could just walk away and no one would care... I promise."

Edith sat on the cot across from Steve, her hands clasped between her shaking knees in front of her.

When she had suggested Steve for Dr. Erskine's project she hadn't fully understood what exactly would take place. But upon learning just what the doctors intended to do left her feeling not only horrified but terribly guilty... this could cost Steve his life.

"You don't get it Edith, this is my chance! This is my one opportunity to serve my country and not from the side lines, I could actually be out there... doing something instead of helplessly watching as innocent people are killed."

Steve stood and began to pace as Edith watched, perched on the edge of the cot.

"How could you even suggest that? Everyone is able to do something except for me! Bucky enlisted, he's serving his country! Hell, even you're serving, you're a nurse Edith, even you get to make a difference! Why can't I?!"

"That's different! I'm not in the line of duty Steve; I'm not being shot at!"

"And Bucky? What about him huh? I didn't see you pulling back your brothers arm when he went to enlist."

"That was different! Bucky's…"

"Bucky's what?! How was Bucky any different than me?"

Edith could only stare at him, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

When she said nothing Steve stopped pacing and scowled down at her.

"Because Bucky's stronger than me… he's bigger, faster and I'm just some what? Pathetic scrawny loser?! Is that what it is Edith? I'm not good enough for this project, is that what you think?!"

"No! That's not what I said, I never said that!"

"But that's what you think… you look me dead in the eye and tell me you think I can do this just as good as Bucky or any other guy out there!"

"Steve please…"

"Tell me!" Steve dropped down to look her in the eyes.

All she could do was slowly shake her head from side to side as the tears slipped down her cheeks. Steve searched her green eyes before abruptly jerking away from her to stride to the door.

"You know if anyone understood what I'm trying to do, it should be you… You know what it's like for people to treat you with kit gloves, like you could break in half at any second." Steve paused at the door to give her a sad glance. "I never thought you'd be the one to doubt me…"

Before she could say anything the heavy door clicked shut after him, leaving Edith alone in the stone silent room. Looking around she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors.

'…if anyone understood what I'm trying to do it, should be you…'

Steve's words ghosted around in her conflicted skull, she knew exactly what he meant… She was just as weak and pathetic as he was…She was no great beauty, not anything like Agent Carter with her tall frame and long legs.

No, Edith was an entirely different sort. At only 5 foot tall weighing just 90 lbs soaking wet she would never pass for someone that anyone would call beautiful. Her mousy brown hair hung in frizzy tufts that she tried in vain to conceal in one long braid down her back. Her eyes were hidden behind thick wire framed lenses that sat atop her small freckled nose.

They were two of a kind, she and Steve. Both had been sickly from birth, she had been the weaker twin to her brother James and Steve had been born with a weak immune system.

He was right… if anyone understood, it should be her…

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

Edith stared at him through the two way glass mirror that separated them from the hospital room where Steve was being poked and prodded by various nurses; taking vitals and testing muscle density.

The look in his eyes made her heart ache, his whole world has just been turned upside down and he could do nothing about it.

At least he wouldn't be alone… he'd never have to be alone, because if there was one person that understood this, it was her.

"Ms. Stark!" Fury's words made her jump. "Have you been listening to anything I've been saying?"

"Honestly? I haven't been listening at all… Mr. Fury… Directory Fury? What's the deal with that, is Fury your last name or something because that is kind of awesome..."

"Just Fury is fine, whatever you want to call me is fine; I don't give a good God damn! You know what I do give a damn about? Figuring out what the hell I'm going to do with the geriatric strong-man sitting on the other side of that glass! We've got to get him set up within SHIELD, find him a place to live, not to mention catch him up on the last 70 years! This isn't something that just…"

"No…" Edith continued to stare at her hands as she sat nursing her 3rd cup of coffee.

"Excuse me? What do you mean no?! Do you think we're just going to release some mentally unstable meat slab out onto the streets of New York with outrageous muscle mass and super human strength? Might as well just give a body builder some bath salts and set him loose in a Chuck E Cheese!"

"That's lovely… But no, I mean that he will not be joining SHIELD. I made my feelings about you people perfectly clear the last time you and I spoke Mr. Fury, I want nothing to do with any of you. And as for the living arrangement, you won't be finding him an apartment here in New York. Steve will be coming back with me to California."

Fury started to protest but Edith silenced him by holding out a single finger, earning her a rather scathing one-eyed glare.

"Before you try and tell me I can't, I would just like to point out that he has absolutely no ties to your organization or the military anymore for that matter. His terms of service would have long since been expired; he's just a regular Joe now. You people think that you can just waltz on in and claim someone as your own without their consent; you've done it with countless people and tried to do it with Tony! But I will be damned..."

"You people?" Fury set his hands on the table, lowering his gaze down with hers as they squared off.

A sharp knock against the glass snapped both of their attention to the two-way mirror where Steve stood.

"Does anyone want to know what I want? I'm 94… not deaf."

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You still haven't told me how this is possible…" Steve made a sweeping hang gesture up and down Edith's tall frame. "The last time I saw you, which was apparently 70 years ago, you were at least 8 inches shorter and less… uhh... not as…"

"Fit?" His stammering made her smile.

"Yes… fit, that is the word I was going to use." A shy smile spread across his face. "But seriously Edith, what did you do?"

That was a tough question…

That was the question that had plagued her for many, many years. How could she tell him that she sacrificed her entire life in the vain fantasy that Steve would look at her as more than just his best friend's dopey sister? That she traded any and all chances of ever having a normal life just in the hopes that someday… he would love her the way that she had loved him.

"You're going to call me the world's biggest hypocrite and probably never let it go." She shifted uncomfortably in her chair opposite him. "After the success of your procedure they had decided that they would take the last vial of Dr. Erskine's serum and make you a partner, they figured that if one public figure was good…two would be even better. They began designing what would later be called the Lady Liberty project."

She slumped back in her chair and blew out a gush of air.

"Long story short I volunteered for the project… and here I am."

"I still don't understand though, I've been frozen for the last 70 years. You've been living your life. You should look much less… much less…"

Edith smirked at him.

"You know what I mean." Steve cleared his throat. "You look like you wouldn't have aged a day…"

Waves of sadness washed over her, she knew this would be difficult, just not this difficult.

"Because I haven't… The serum did something to us Steve, it changed us… mutated our cells. A normal person's cells will deteriorate over time; they will wear down and grow old until you eventually die. Do you remember how they mentioned that you could never get drunk? That's because your metabolism is too fast, you will literally burn off the alcohol before you feel the effects. It's the same thing with our cells; they repair themselves so quickly that our bodies will never show any signs of wear or age… "

Edith took a deep breath and drew her legs up to her chest, resting her chin on her knees.

"We'll never die Steve… at least not of old age. The way we look today is the way we will look in 70 more years." A small tear slipped down her cheek but she brushed it away quickly.

Steve balked. She could see a million different questions flash through his eyes as he tried to process what she was telling him.

"It's a lot to take in all at once Steve, just try…"

"Will this be passed on to our kids?" He paused

"Not like that… not OUR kids?" Steve cleared his throat. "What will happen to their DNA?"

Despite how much she wanted to laugh at his awkwardness, more tears sprang forth and slipped down.

"There won't be any kids Steve, at least not for me… another wonderful consolation prize!" She let out a soggy, bitter laugh. "As 'perfect' as my DNA is I'll never pass it on. I have no idea what this has don't to your… business, but my body repairs itself far too quickly to ever carry a child to term…"

"Edith…" Steve moved to scoot his chair next to her.

"Ms. Stark, Director Fury needs to have a word with you before we release Mr. Rogers into your custody." A young agent softly interrupted from the door.

"Certainly, give me a minute." Edith let her legs down from her chair and began to gather her purse.

"Wait, did he just call you Stark? Why did he call you Stark?" Steve was staring at her with an expression she couldn't quite pin point.

"That's my last name Steve…"

"Your last name? How can that be your last name unless you… Did you marry Howard?!"

His outraged expression made her nervous, this was going to be harder to explain than she thought… Maybe some things were better left unsaid.

"No Steve, it's a bit more complicated than that."