A/N: Hello faithful readers. Chapter four and I decided to post two more!

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney, or the Avengers.


I brought Steve to the medical room the next morning, giving him a small smile of encouragement, as I knew he was nervous about certain tests. A few kisses and he was smiling and laughing freely by the time we heard a knock.

I went to the door, to see it was Peggy and the nurse of Erskine's, Helen, I think her name was, and a doctor to give Steve his physical.

"I will step outside," I said, giving Steve a small smile, "Private."

"Major," He nodded back, as I walked into the hall with Peggy. She gave me a look and I said, "What?"

"Your lipstick is smudged a bit," She said, gesturing to the corner of my mouth. I quickly found a reflective surface and groaned trying to tidy up my mouth, "Shit."

"So, when did that start?" She asked, teasing me.

"The night before last. Abe… stood lookout as I talked to him alone in the barracks."

"I see. I'm sorry dear, you know I am. He was a good man," She said, and I nodded, "The best."

"It was Hydra, wasn't it?" I asked her.

"Yes. It's hard to tell where everything is going from here, but you need to know they are suspending the program," She said as I nodded, "That was to be expected."

"Peg, I hate war," I sighed.

"All the best soldiers do, Elizabeth," She said, patting my shoulder in comfort. Peg stayed behind to guide Steve back through the base and I made my way down to Howard, who looked up at me in question. I gave a gentle smile back and he nodded. It wasn't mind reading; we just knew each other that well. We were quiet a few minutes more as Howard worked, and I knew not to disturb him but handed him tools when he held out his hand behind him.

"Colonel Phillips, my committee is demanding answers," Senator Brandt said, following behind a determined Phillips.

"Great. Let's talk about how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car? What have we got here?" Phillips directed the second question at my brother.

"Well, speaking modestly, I'm the best mechanical engineer in the country. But I don't know what's inside this thing or how it works. We're not even close to this technology," Howard said glumly.

"Well, who is?"

"Hydra," Chester said, before adding sarcastically, "I'm sure you've been reading our briefings."

"I'm on a number of committee's Colonel," The Senator bit back.

"Hydra is a Nazi Deep Science Division. It's led by Johann Schmidt. But they have much bigger ambitions," Peggy said, as I watched her and Steve come towards our gathering.

"Hydra is practically a cult. They worship Schmidt, they think he's invincible," Phillips added.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Spoke to the President this morning. As of today the SSR is being re-tasked," Phillips said, approaching me.

"Colonel?" I asked in confusion.

"We are taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags Major Stark, Agent Carter. You too Stark. We are flying to London tonight."

"Sir?" Steve said, as I shot him a panicked look. We had just started getting to know each other better, and we were being separated.

"If you are going after Schmidt, I want in," Steve says confidently.

"You are an experiment, you are going to Alamogordo."

"The serum worked," Steve said, wondering why he was being dismissed.

"I asked for an army, and all I got was you. You are not enough," Phillips said, and I felt my blood boil as I glared a hole into Phillips's head.

"Say goodbye to your boy Major," Phillips said, and I had to fight not to let angry tears gather in my eyes.

"Yes, I know about that," He said quietly, before turning to leave.

"With all due respect for the Colonel, I think we may be missing a point here. I've seen you in action Steve. More importantly, the country's seen it," He said before gesturing to his aide to bring a newspaper over.

"The enlistment lines have been around the block since you hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol like that and hide him in a lab. Son, do you want to serve your country on the most important battlefield of the war?" Brandt said, and I could sense this wasn't going to be good.

"Sir, that's all I want," Steve said, and I screwed my eyes shut as I realized he put the final nail in the coffin with that line.

"Then congratulations, you just got promoted," Brandt said. I watched as Brandt walked away, and Peggy followed to make sure he and his aide got out alright, after they gave Steve their contact information and where to go.

I gestured for him to follow me, weaving down halls and double-checking the coast was clear before I opened a door and gestured for him to walk inside. He did as I watched the hall, backing inside as I closed the door. I turned on the light, only to see Steve watching me.

"Phillips had no right to say what he did about you," I started off with.

"I don't know about that. I was supposed to be the first, not the last, " He said, looking down.

"Steve, you know why I took a chance on you?" I said, taking one of his hands, "Because I saw something great in you. You faced Hodge everyday, his torment. You got up each day and didn't quit, even when the Absentee Father was kicking your ass. You refused to relieve your pain in that chamber yesterday, because you knew you weren't done yet. He is going to see it too."

"It doesn't matter. I am gonna serve. I'm gonna make you proud Major," He smiled.

"I'm already proud of you Steve," I smiled back. He didn't say anything, but brought me closer for another kiss. I squeaked a bit at his tight hold and he pulled back to ask if he hurt me.

"No, it was just a little unexpected. It was nice though," I said, splaying my hand over his heart.

"I wish I didn't have to go," I said, before he could lean in again. I had plenty of boyfriends before Steve, and I wasn't a virgin. I was Howard Stark's sister, but I wasn't loose. I had some self-control, at least enough to make sure Steve and I didn't go too fast.

"I know. I wish we had more time together Elle," He said, reaching up to cradle my cheek in his hand. It was larger than the other night, so it was weird for me. I pulled it from my face, to trace the lines on his palm and said, "If I knew where you were going, I would write you."

"Do it anyways," He suggested, "I'll write you once I get settled, and we'll just correspond. It's not enough for me, but it's enough for now. I can't lose touch with you. Not now that…"

"Not now that… what?" I asked, looking up.

"That I found the right partner," He said softly, brushing his lips across mine.

"Steve, you've known me less than two weeks," I smiled when he pulled away.

"I know that. But there has only been one other person I felt like this about. So that's how I know it's true," He said, kissing me once more.

"Steve, I…"

"What?" He asked, pulling back.

"I can't drag this out like I want to. I have to pack," I said, looking up at him.

"Write, please," He implored me.

"Of course Darling," I said, blushing furiously at his smile.

"Darling? Well I'm gonna have to come up with something just as endearing for you," He chuckled. I rolled my eyes and said, "Silly man. Elle will do just fine."


We corresponded for the better part of 6 months. Steve hated his job. He was a chorus girl, is the way he would describe his job. In that time, I was all over Europe and he was all over the US. We wrote tirelessly of our pasts and our hopes for the future. He would try out different pet names on me but none made me feel as giddy as when he called me Elle. His penmanship was remarkable, and I learned that it was because when the USA joined the war, he was an art student. He would send me sketches along with his letters, and I kept them all, safe in a shoebox in my foot locker. He had drawn me once, stating that it was just a rough sketch, and he'd like to draw me again in person, the next time we saw one another.

The USO tour was coming to Italy, around the same time as I was there. It was unfortunate timing; because of the news I had to bear him when I found him drawing backstage, on a rainy November afternoon.

"Darling," I spoke softly. Steve put his sketchbook down quickly, hoping up to face me.

"Elle, what are you doing here?" He asked, pulling me into a hug, before giving me a tender kiss. I smiled sadly up at him.

"Officially, I'm not here at all. Peggy isn't either," I gave a weak smile, "I'm sorry about your audience. They didn't really appreciate it, the way they should have."

"The crowds I'm used to are usually more… twelve. But bond sales take a 10% bump in every state I visit," He said, sounding rehearsed in it's delivery.

"I hate how Brandt can throw his voice like that," I said sarcastically and he scoffed, "At least he's got me doing this. Phillips would have had me stuck in a lab."

"And those are your only two options? A lab rat or a dancing monkey?" I heard Peggy say behind me. I was surprised she had managed to sneak up on me.

"I wouldn't have said dancing monkey. But you do call yourself a chorus girl. You were meant for more than this Steve. You know how strongly I believe that," I said, seeing where she was going. She was giving him a reason to fight.

"What?" Peggy asked, noticing his far away look.

"You know, for the longest time I dreamed about coming overseas, being on the front lines, serving my country. I finally got everything I wanted, and I'm wearing tights," He said, before we all looked over to the sound of an ambulance by the med tent.

"They look like they've been through hell," He said.

"These men more than most. Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano. 200 men went up against him, and less than 50 returned. Your audience contained what was left of the 107th," Peggy said, as I shook my head at her, eyes wide as I mouthed for her to stop, "The rest were either killed our captured- What is wrong Elizabeth?"

"The 107th?" Steve asked and I looked at him softly.

"Bucky is MIA. There is a chance…"

Steve didn't wait to hear what I was going to say, already striding towards the Command tent, with Peg and I following behind him, using our coats as cover from the rain.

"Colonel Phillips," Steve said as he entered the tent. I flicked a curl over my shoulder, in disgust at the way it was laying against my face.

"Well if it isn't The Star Spangled Man With The Plan? And what is our plan today?"

"I need the casualty list from Azzano," Steve said, as I touched his shoulder, wincing at his words. Not the smartest move Steve.

"You don't get to give me orders, Son," Phillips said. As Peggy readjusted her raincoat, and I moved my hand down to Steve's arm in support.

"I just need one name sir. Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th," Steve said, desperate.

"You two and I are going to have a conversation later that you are not going to enjoy," Phillips said, gesturing his pen at Peggy and I.

"Please tell me if he is alive sir. B-A-R-"

"I can spell," Colonel Phillips cut him off, before getting up to sort some papers and saying, "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar, I'm sorry."

Steve was quiet for a moment, the fact his best friend might be dead sinking in, before doing a 180 and asking, "What about the others? Do you have a rescue mission?"

"Yeah, it's called winning the war," Phillips said and I closed my eyes in frustration. Don't yell, don't yell…

"But if you know where they are-"

"They are thirty miles behind the lines, through some of the most heavily fortified area in Europe. We'd lose more men than we can save, but I don't expect you to understand that because you are a chorus girl," Phillips said, and I clenched one hand into a fist. If he wasn't the only man to take me seriously in the army... and if it wouldn't get me court martialed...

"I think I understand it just fine," Steve said, a quiet anger in his voice.

"Well, understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly, you have somewhere you've got to be in thirty minutes."

"Yes sir, I do," Steve said studying the map. My eyes widened as I followed him, knowing exactly where his thought process was going.

"Darling, Steve, please tell me you aren't thinking-"

"I'm going," He said simply.

"You want to walk to Austria?" I asked, wondering if his head was screwed on right.

"She's right, that's insane," Peggy said, coming up to us where Steve was gathering stuff from his dressing room he shared with the USO girls.

"You heard the Colonel, your friend is most likely dead. He's devising a strategy, and if he detects-"

"By the time he's done that, it will be too late!"

"Darling, please," I begged, "You haven't been field tested since the serum."

"But you have," Steve said, making my eyes widen, as he realized Peggy was right behind me.

"Elle, I'm sorry," He said, and I looked back to see her amused smile.

"Oh you think I didn't know? I saw you get shot, and two days later you were wearing short sleeves with no bandage or scar to show for it," She said, "I wasn't born yesterday."

"It's not the same one. Abe and I were drunk, and he gave me the unperfected version. Not the same as Steve's," I explained quickly as Steve put his fake shield in the back of a jeep.

"Elle, you told me you thought I was meant for more. You mean that?" He asked, and I smiled, "Every word Darling."

"Then you have to let me go."

"Wait, I can do on better than a jeep," I smiled, before pulling him along, grabbing his shield from the back. Howard didn't put up much of a fuss, giving Steve a look as I held fast to his hand. I flicked his ear, and he agreed to fly us close enough to the Hydra base in Krausburg. I was silent our ride over, not wanting to let Steve go. Howard teased me mercilessly for how love sick I sounded after reading his letters all these months. Having him here was like a dream that was about to turn into a nightmare.

Peggy and him discussed his way back, handing him a transponder, while I had a crazy idea. I wasn't exactly dressed for it, but who cared? I was at least wearing pants.

Quickly pulling on a parachute while Steve was distracted by Howard asking Peggy if they could go for fondue in Lucerne. Peggy gave me a look, asking, "What are you doing?"

And then explosions fired around us. Howard did an evasive maneuver, while I undid the lock on the hatch.

"Elizabeth!" Peggy said, and Steve was looking at me in horror as I said, "See you down there Captain."

Jumping was a stupid idea, as I had no paratrooper training, and the only thing I knew was to pull the ripcord.

"Gah," I said as my chute got tangled in some branches. I had managed to direct it to a somewhat clear spot in the trees, but failed to keep in mind that my chute was several feet above me when I did a sharp turn. Looking up, I noticed it was caught on branches, and I growled to myself as I realized I was less than a foot off the ground. I unbuckled myself, and dropped to the ground. Looking up, I saw Steve was right above me, so I moved. My hair was falling into my face though and I sighed in frustration as I combed out the Victory Roll with my fingers.

"You wacky dame, what are you thinking?" He said as he approached me, making sure I was alright.

"I'm fine. Chute just got caught. Now I need to fix my hair," I sighed, quickly braiding it.

"But what were you thinking? Elle, this might be a one way trip," He said seriously.

"Steve, I can help. Please, I would never forgive myself if I didn't do everything I could to help you find answers, and to bring those men home," I said, as he stopped, and brought his goggles back to rest on his helmet. I finished tying my hair off with a piece of cord from the chute and he pushed a fallen curl behind my ear sweetly.

"Okay, then let's go," He said, directing us through the woods, using a compass with a very familiar picture in it.

It had been something a paper had taken of me in London, on a night out with Howard. I had been smiling at something, hair done up, red lips and a laugh bursting up from my stomach. It warmed my heart to know he had put me in his compass.

"I didn't have a pocket watch, but I had this," He said when he caught me staring at it.

"Am I your moral compass," I teased.

"Yeah. It was you that told me I was meant for something more, remember? You believe in me," He whispered, stopping to kiss me softly.

"Always. Let's go get them then, Captain," I smirked.

"Major, it would be my honor to escort you to this rescue," He smiled, taking my hand.


Slang translation:

wacky: crazy