Hey guys!
I'm really sorry that it's been so long.
My only excuse is that my computer got a really nasty virus back over the summer and I got the teaching job, so my life was a little hectic.
Not only that, but my parents are preparing for a move to Maine so everything is turned upside down.
I don't get a lot of free time between teaching and helping them get prepared for the move.
Again, I really am sorry.
Those of you who have followed reviewed it is extremely heartwarming to know that y'all care about this story.
I will try to get parts out more quickly.
Also, if there are any spelling or grammer mistakes, please excuse them and forgive me. Money's a little tight and I can't bring myself to pay for Office.
When the day of the exposition arrived, Andy was a bundle of excitement. She rummaged through her closet and pulled out her favorite outfit. The full skirt was royal blue and fell to mid-shin. It was fitted from the waist up to the bottom of her ribs. With it, she paired a white, sleeveless shirt that had blue and red polka dots, a red belt, and a pair of white pumps. She finished it off with a red bow in her hair and red lipstick.
As night began to fall, Andy made her way to the exposition that was already brimming with people. Everything was amazing and she walked from exhibit to exhibit. Checking the time, she made her way over to Stark's area. She wove her way through the crowd and stopped beside a familiar blonde.
It was clear that Steve did not hear Andy walk up. She couldn't stop the frown that came to her lips when the woman that stood beside him looked at him like he was an embarrassment. She turned her attention back to the stage as Howard came out.
After kissing one of the show girls, Howard wiped his mouth and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, what if I told you that in a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all? With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology, you'll be able to do just that."
Everyone watched as Howard worked the control panel and the car began to levitate. Gasps and awes were heard all over the crowd and Andy was sure that she head a "Holy cow!" come from Bucky. Suddenly, Howard's devices began to spark and the car came crashing back to the ground. A mixture of clapping and chuckles were heard next and Howard tried to recover.
"I did say a few years, didn't I?" he said as he caught Andy's eye. She couldn't help but laugh at how uncomfortable he looked.
"I told him that would happen," she said mostly to herself.
The group beside her must have heard her comment because they all turned to face her. Bucky's and Steve's faces lit up at seeing her but the two women looked at her in disbelief. "You know Howard Stark?" the blonde one asked with a curled lip.
"Aye," Andy said with a smile, "I work with him. I thought I might see you here, Steve. How are you doing?" Just then she noticed the light bruise on his forehead and asked, "What happened to your face?"
Bucky stepped up just then and said, "He decided to teach another guy a lesson. What are your plans for tonight, Andy?"
Andy shrugged and sighed, "I just came to see Stark mess up. I looked over his plans the other day and warned him, but he didn't listen to me. I notice you're in uniform."
"Yep," he said as he puffed his chest out a little, "I got my orders and I ship out tomorrow morning. We decided to have a fun night. You want to come with us?"
"I don't see why not, as long as your dates are fine with it."
The blonde and the brunette both shook their heads and gave Bucky sweet smiles. Bucky, who was probably used to the female attention, wrapped an arm around the brunette and said, "Hey, Steve, what do you say we treat these girls...?"
When he didn't finish the sentence, Andy looked to Steve only to find that he wasn't there. She turned around quickly to try to catch sight of him but had no luck.
"Where did he go?" she asked softly.
Bucky shook his head and said, "I think I know."
Bucky led them off to where the enlistment sign-up was and asked them to wait while he went in search for Steve. Andy glanced at the two females and sighed. She held out her hand and said, "I'm Andy O'Malley, by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
The two women offered her a weak handshake. She found out the brunette was name Connie and the blonde was named Laura. "Do you really work with Howard Stark?" Connie asked excitedly.
"Yes," Andy replied, "we met a few years ago after my uncle died and he gave me a job. He's a bit egotistical but underneath it all, he's a good guy."
Connie smiled brightly at this, but Laura looked unimpressed. The brunette seemed to feel the tension between Laura and Andy and looked a little uncomfortable. After a few moments of awkward silence, she called to Bucky, "Hey, Sarge, are we going dancing or what?"
"Yes, we are!" Bucky yelled back. Andy saw him exchange a few more words with Steve before coming back alone. "Come on, girls. They're playing our song."
Andy glanced back uncertainly at Steve and said, "Actually, go on without me. I've got a friend who's workng here and I should stop by to say hello. Besides, Bucky, you already have more girls than you can dance with at once." She took a step closer to Bucky and whispered, "I can watch out for him." Raising her voice again, she added, "Enjoy your night out. Bucky, in case I don't see you again, stay safe over there."
Bucky shot Andy a greatful smile and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Quite sure, I'm afraid. It was nice meeting you, Connie, Laura." With a final wave, Andy moved away from the trio and picked her way through the crowd. Using the back entrance, she asked to see Doctor Erskine but was informed he was talking to someone. She waited in a doorway until she saw Erskine emerge from a room followed by none other than Steve Rogers.
She watched silently as Erskine stamped Steve's forms and congratulate him. A soft smile graced her lips as Erskine handed the file to Steve and called him "soldier." Erskine turned then and caught sight of her. As he walked to meet her, Andy nodded toward Steve and asked, "What do you think of him, Abraham?"
"I think he is a splendid candidate," Erskine said as he greeted Andy with a hug. "What have you been doing, Andromeda?"
Andy shrugged and said, "I went to see Stark's flying car. I promised a friend I would look after Steve. He's got a good heart. What's the next step?"
"We will begin training the candidates," Erskine said, his German accent making Andy smile. "Agent Carter and Colonel Phillips will be in charge of that. Will you be helping Stark with the final preparations?"
"Yes," Andy said with a nod, "we will be working on it together. I should let you get back to work. It was good to see you again, Abraham."
"Yes, it was good to see you as well, Andromenda. Take care."
"You know me," Andy said with a laugh as she spun away, "I'm always careful." She moved outside and scanned the crowd for Steve. She caught sight of him moving toward the exit and she ran to catch up. "Steve!" she called, "wait up!"
Steve turned to see Andy jogging up to him and asked, "What are you doing? I thought you were with Bucky."
Andy shrugged and said, "Well, I was, but I think he had enough attention without me there. I decided to wait for you. How did it go?"
"They accepted me," he said as he held up the file in his hand.
"That's great!" Andy said as she hooked her arm through Steve's. "This deserves a celebration. Come on, I'll treat you to some pie and milkshakes." They left the exposition and walked to the diner near Andy's apartment. Steve smiled at the thought of how nice it was to talk to someone who didn't think bad of him or look at him like a sick child.
"So," he began nervously, "I don't really know a lot about you."
Andy chuckled and said, "You could just ask."
"W-w-would you tell me about you?" Steve stammered as a blush creeped up his neck.
"Sure," Andy smirked, "I guess I can. I grew up in Ireland, in Dublin to be precise. My ma died when I was a little girl and I don't remember much about her. Da is a professor of history. They were both older when they had me. Ma was thirty-eight and Da was thirty-nine. Da was injured in the war and was sent home early. I was born in nineteen-eighteen, about a year after Da came back. When I turned nineteen, I came to New York to live with my uncle. I figured it would be a new place to start over. I was always considered something of a freak back home. About a year after I came to America, my uncle died of a heartattack. I was struggling to make ends meet until I met Stark. Our first meeting was a little rocky, but he offered me a job. After that, I moved into my present apartment and have worked for him ever since. What about you?"
Steve shrugged and said, "There's not much to tell. Both my parents died when I was younger and ever since then, it's just been me and Bucky. He's been my friend for almost all my life. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for him."
Andy smiled and said, "It must be nice to have a friend like that. You're very lucky, Steve."
"Yeah, I guess I am."
Andy smiled up at Steve and they continued to walk in silence. Once they got to the diner, Andy ordered two pieces of apple pie and two vanilla milkshakes. While they ate, the two barely talked. Both were satisfied with the companionable silence. Steve was just about done when Andy spoke again.
"You know, Steve," she said as she pointed her spoon at him, "I have a friend who I think would adore you. She's a bit of a tough nut, but she's a great lass."
Steve chuckled and said, "She probably wouldn't glance twice at me. I've been meaning to ask you, what do you think of Bucky?"
Andy glanced up and looked at Steve suspiciously. She leaned an elbow against the table and said, "He's fine, I guess. He centainly seems like a good friend even if his taste in women is a little on the poor side. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason," Steve smirked. "I guess I should probably be heading home. Tomorrow's a big day."
Steve paid for the bill, much to Andy's disapproval, and walked her home. When they reached the door of Andy's apartment building, Steve offered his hand to Andy and said, "In case we don't see each other again."
Andy grasped his hand firmly and pulled him into a hug. "I have a very good feeling that we'll meet again soon," she said as she pulled away. "You take care of yourself, Steve. Bealtaine an bóthar ardú le leat (May the road rise to meet you.)" Silently, she turned and entered the building with a soft "goodnight."
