Hi Folks!

I'm back again with the next installment. This was a tricky one!
Thank you to everyone for all your patience and eager support, I can't begin to tell you how important and meaningful it is to me!
The number of followers since the last update has almost doubled! BLIMEY, that's astounding! It now stands a brilliant 89 followers since the end of February when this story was first published, and that is FAST! So thank you thank you thank you!

Well the story is looking to be a monthly installment now. One chapter every month, that way it gives me enough time to make sure it's the best it can be for you all.
Please do keep showing your love for Cap & Cora! Reviews, Favourites and Follows are always fantastic!

Here we go...


CHAPTER 7 - The Compromise.

"Good Evening." Nick Fury greeted with a form of irritated politeness that immediately had Steve out of his seat to stand between him and Cora. The Captain knew Fury wouldn't hurt her, but his approach towards the bed was far too abrupt right now. And apparently Cora thought so too.

It only took a second for her to leap from the bed and head straight for the corner of the room to be the furthest away from the new stranger and his entourage. And it just so happened to be behind Steve as well. He would have smiled if the situation wasn't so tense and an argument imminent.

Steve stood his ground defensively, seeing how the guard's hands had twitched on their weapons when she had jumped up so suddenly. He could hear her panting with fear behind him, even over the alarm of the life support. He couldn't blame her for feeling that way, of course. Fury did have quite an authoritative and intimidating presence with his leather uniform, dark skin and an eye patch, and his unamused stare was not helping as he glanced at her over Steve's shoulder before addressing the super soldier.

"Last I recall, Cap'ain..." Fury pointed out, casually moving over to turn off the life support that was blaring with alarm now that it was disconnected from her finger, "I hadn't given the order for her to be released..."

"She isn't some criminal you can keep chained up, Nick." He retorted, his jaw tight with protective anger.

"She ain't here on vacation either." The director countered from the other side of the bed, his hands resting on his hips, "There are protocols to follow, you know that. I'm responsible for the safety of everyone in this building..."

"She isn't a danger..."

"That doesn't mean that she can't be one!" Nick interrupted forcefully.

Steve could feel himself seething beneath his skin, and that was not a good thing when he was in the same room as a nervous telekinetic, "I think we need to talk outside."

"Agreed." Fury replied with annoyance, marching for the door with the Captain following.

"Wait!"

Steve halted immediately, turning towards the call to see that Cora had stepped out of the corner towards him, a look of pleading apprehension covering her flushed features. It occurred to him then that she had never been left alone before, at least not that she could remember. The times that she had woken up, he had been there attempting to show her kindness. And now she didn't want him to leave. It kind of warmed his heart to be needed like that by her. It meant that she had formed a positive bond with him, no matter how small it might be at the moment, but it showed that she at least trusted him enough to feel safer when he was with her. It was an encouraging start.

Steve smiled comfortingly as he took two steps closer, but decided to keep a safe distance so she could still have her personal bubble. He may have gained a fragment of her acceptance, but he didn't want to push the boundaries. He was still practically a stranger to her.

"It's okay." He reassured tenderly, "I'll only be a moment"

"Please..." She began, but stopped herself as she looked away. Obviously she still had her sense of dignity and didn't want to seem cowardly by asking him not to leave her alone. Steve could only imagine how frightening her situation must be, and her strength in the face of it made him proud of her.

"I'll be right outside the door. I promised you that you're safe here, and I always keep my word." He added softly, taking another small step so he could speak quietly with a smirk, "Besides, there's no-one around here big enough to get past me."

It was only slight, but as she looked up at him and drew in a deep breath, a gentle amused smile tweaked her soft lips at his joke, making his skin quiver and heart skip out of step as if tripping over itself. It had been so long since he had seen that wonderful smirk, one that he had thought would remain only in his memory.

"I can believe that." She whispered, a shyness sparkling in her eyes alongside the nerves of the unknown.

Steve smiled in return, beginning to see more and more hope for her. She still had the same cheeky sense of humour.

"Be right back."

Following the Director out into the hall, the guarded entourage stepping out as well, the heavy metal door slid back into it's secure place to be sealed with an advanced locking mechanism. The sound of it closing made him feel rotten, knowing that Cora was still in there and still fragile.

"Let me make this clear, Cap." Fury suddenly spoke, "She. Is. Dangerous. We still don't know exactly what's she's capable of or how powerful she can be, and whether you like it or not, she is a threat to everyone in this facility until such a time when she can control herself."

"And you expect her to do that when she's treated like a prisoner?" Steve responded firmly, "A frightened and cornered animal will always try to defend itself. She has no memory at all. She didn't even know her name..."

"All the more reason for caution..."

"All the more reason for compassion!" Retorted the Captain, his aggravation beginning to show in his stern tone and body language. He was not going to let them make her into some beast just because they were afraid of her, "She's alone and she doesn't know who to trust. And on top of that she thinks she's a freak because of what she can do. She isn't a threat..."

"Excuse me if I disagree on behalf of the hospital equipment and staff." Nick responded with a hint of sarcasm, "Now I'd say she's an intense threat because she has no memory, because she's scared and because she doesn't know what she can do anymore."

"But that isn't her fault!" He reaffirmed with a firm brow, "You want her to learn control, then you need to trust my judgement. I know her..."

"You know her, huh?" He interrupted, his hands resting on his hips again as his authority stepped up with casual condescension, "Did you know from the start what she could do? What she was capable of?"

Steve was silent for a moment, his jaw tightening with frustration as he knew what the Director was getting at, "No."

"Well do you know now?" Asked Nick, keeping his condescending tone to prove his point but now edged his words with a serious warning, "Do you know what she might do the next time she gets scared? Or maybe when she gets curious and wants to see just how powerful she can be?"

"She won't..."

"How do you know that, Cap?" He interrupted again, raising his voice, "You may have thought you knew her back in the day, but now she's..."

"How do you know that?" Steve jumped in, looking the Director dead in the eye with stunned accusation.

Fury almost physically bit his lip as he looked away, altering his stance slightly as he cursed his loose tongue.

"So this is what you kept out of the mission brief." Steve stated, rage beginning to rumble in his chest at the idea that they could have known she was alive all this time and that they had left her to suffer, "How do you know about her?"

There was a silent stand off between them, neither wanting to give an inch and surrender their resolve, but eventually Fury breathed out his frustration and stubbornness.

"You're a SHIELD agent. We know everything about you, including your past before the serum." Nick answered, relinquishing to his questions whilst trying to keep his higher standing as Director.

"And why didn't you tell me she was still alive?"

"Because we didn't know until we interrogated the ship's insider. He said that she was referred to as Candidate C42, but with a little push he eventually gave us her real name, along with the head scientist."

"You should have told me."

"It would have jeopardised the mission, and you know it. Your emotions are already clouding your judgement." Nick said, his calm returning as he cooled down but refused to change his decision. He could see on Steve's face that his last words had hit a cord with him as his hands rested on his hips. "Whether you want to admit it or not, right now she isn't stable because she doesn't know how to be. I have over a thousand people in this facility to think about, and if their safety means she has temporary restrictions then you will just have to deal with that."

"Keeping her in a cell isn't going to help control her fear or her power." Steve pointed out, trying his best to let go of his wrath so he could try and convince the head of SHIELD that he knew what was best for her right now, "You want her to be stable then she needs to learn trust. She needs to feel safe here so she doesn't get spooked again and cause another accident."

Nick Fury looked at the Captain for a brief moment in thought, mulling over his words and the situation. To a degree he was right, but the fact that her captors had an entire research ship dedicated to her and her power made him nervous, and very cautious. But what could he do? He couldn't put everyone at risk but she wouldn't learn her control without some form of freedom.

"Alright. I'll compromise." Nick finally said, "As long as she keeps the collar on, then she can move around the building as she wishes, but only with an armed guard. And she is to stay away from certain classified departments. Deal?"

"Deal. I'll stay with her, she knows me... best." Steve trailed off slightly towards the end of the sentence, his guilt and sorrow feeding back in as he realised that she really didn't know him at all anymore. She only knew the Captain side of himself.

"Maybe when she's a bit more comfortable, you can introduce her to Dr Banner." Fury added, noting how the situation of her memory loss was affecting Rogers, but knowing that there wasn't a hope in hell's chance of making him stand down from the case. In all honesty, he couldn't blame him at all. "If anyone knows about control, it's him."

"Sounds like a good idea." Steve agreed, folding his arms over his chest as he began to think of a plan and try to see past his aching feelings, "But she can't stay here and keep that collar on forever. She's a human being, not a lab rat."

"You show me that she can control herself then she can go wherever the hell she pleases, Cap. But only when I'm convinced. That's the deal."

Steve bit his tongue against the argument that wanted to be released. He had to see things from the director's point of view, "Agreed."

"Good. I'm still waiting on your mission report by the way." Nick added dismissively as he walked away down the hall, "Oh and don't go breaking any more of my orders!"


Steve strode along the corridors of the SHIELD headquarters, carrying a blue plastic tray with various types of breakfast balanced on the top of it. Though he did a good job of appearing to be normal with his meal delivery, he was both quietly excited and nervous as he drew closer to his destination: Cora's room.

After his discussion with Fury the evening before, he had gone back inside and kept her company. She had been sitting on the bed as if she was a lost child, but her relief at his return was instantly evident in her welcoming smile that had briefly frozen him. She had seemed to physically and emotionally relax, which was encouraging and heart warming. Though everything had been happening so quickly, rushing from one terrified confusing moment to the next, she seemed to be coping and adjusting extremely well.

They had sat and talked into the night about Fury's rules and conditions whilst she remained at SHIELD, and why he had acted so harsh. He had explained about the collar, about the facility she would be calling home for a while, and he answered her various questions about her past, who she was, why she was taken and what little he knew about her power. Steve had tried to answer as many as he could, but there had been a lot of improvisation in order to dodge the disturbing facts of her life.

Unfortunately, in doing so, it had made him realise that he wouldn't be able to keep the truth from her forever. As much as he wanted her to have a clean start without any regrets, it was clear that she wanted to remember her old life more than start over and make a new one. She wasn't much interested in the present or the possibilities it offered, she simply wanted her memories so she could feel whole again.

A part of Steve was reluctant and scared for her, wondering how she might cope with the fact that she had been frozen for so long, but if that's what she craved the most for her happiness to be restored, then he would respectfully oblige. However, he wanted to ease her into the facts a bit at a time, not just blurt it out and risk hurting her. It was going to be a lot for her to deal with and accept. He just hoped that she could survive it all, and he could figure out a way to do it.

After a while, Cora had fallen asleep on the hospital bed, her nerves and uncertainties about him almost entirely washed away. He could see that she was beginning to feel quite comfortable around him now. Though she still had a few nervous responses, it was at least enough to willingly allow herself to sleep in his presence. It gave him hope that she may remember him after all, or maybe even rekindle their bond, but he tried his best not to cling to the idea. He didn't want the disappointment or heartbreak if she decided her affections didn't match his own. It had been seventy years since they parted, but he still felt the same for her, and he knew it wouldn't change. But that didn't mean she would feel as he did.

He had carefully pulled a blanket over her sleeping form and quickly wrote a message on a scrap of paper explaining where he had gone and that a friend would visit in a while with some clothes, then he carefully left it beside her. Hopefully it would put her at ease if she woke up to find him not there. It had been a fair few days since he last slept, and though he left her grudgingly, he knew that he needed to rest. He needed to be sharp and alert around her, not sluggish and exhausted.

When he got home, it had taken a bit of time but finally he had fallen into a deep slumber for a few hours. It wasn't ideal but fortunately his super soldier stamina could cope with sleep deprivation pretty well. He could manage until the following night.

Steve stopped outside Cora's room as he greeted the two armed agents standing either side of the door, "Gentlemen."

"Morning, Cap." They replied almost in unison.

"How has she been?"

"Model guest, Captain." One of them said, "We had to escort her to pee a few hours ago but she was perfectly behaved. And nothing happened when Agent Romanov visited either."

"Good to hear." Steve responded with some relief. He had asked Natasha before he had gone home if she could take Cora some clothes this morning, and he had been a little worried how she would handle the new face without him there for support. He had hoped that his note would calm her at least, "Thank you."

Steve swiped his security card through the door's reader and then placed his hand onto the scanner, a steady blue light sweeping beneath his palm to read it.

"Access granted, Captain Rogers." The security's intelligence stated, it's female voice was smooth with a polite android tone.

The thick metal door slid open, revealing Cora who was wide awake and quickly got to her feet in response. When she saw him however, she immediately breathed with a calm pleasant smile.

Steve walked into the room and stopped, the door closing behind him as he looked at her for a surprised moment. She was wearing standard issue SHIELD sweat pants with a black t-shirt emblazoned with the emblem over her left breast. She also had strike team combat boots laced onto her feet which gave her a style that he had never seen her show before. Her hair was combed and plaited to fall over one of her shoulders, but still it reached her waist. And even though she wore no make up and had been through a frozen hell for seven decades, her features were still like smooth porcelain, the dark circles beneath her eyes almost entirely faded, and her soft lips were now a natural dusky pink. She looked healthy and beautiful, enough to make him forget that he was actually staring until she blushed and looked away shyly.

Steve cleared his throat a little to try and regain his thoughts, "Good morning."

"Morning." She replied, her fingers knitting together in front of her.

"Did you sleep okay?"

"Yes, thank you. You?"

"I managed a few hours." He smirked, expecting the small lecture that he knew she would deliver in response. It was what the old Cora would have done, and he was curious to know if she still held the same personality traits.

"You shouldn't skip your sleep." She said, unknowingly fulfilling his prediction to make him smile fondly.

"I heard you met Natasha."

"Yes. She brought me clothes." She smiled a little timidly, opening her arms for a moment to emphasise her outfit, "She was nice, had a good grasp of how to keep me relaxed even though she was clearly someone not to be meddled with."

Steve giggled a little under his breath, "That's true, I'll admit, but don't worry about it. She won't hurt you."

"Unless I do something to provoke her." She retorted with a slight sadness in her tone as she looked away for a moment.

Steve couldn't deny her statement, regardless of how much he wanted to. He knew that Romanov wouldn't hesitate to do what was necessary in a split second, but he also knew that there was a sense of compassion buried deep down inside her that would show itself from time to time. And it was that part of Natasha that he trusted enough to allow her near Cora. She had seen his reaction on the ship and had been thoughtful enough to sit with him sometimes at the hospital. She knew the situation between them, and to a degree, she obviously supported them. Natasha knew what it was like to have a life taken away, so he guessed she sympathized with her.

"But she did kindly cover the security camera for me whilst I got changed." Cora added with a gentle smile, obviously trying to brighten the situation after her statement.

"Right... I hadn't thought of that." He said, going along with her brave attempt and marvelling at how calm and sure she seemed today, "Sorry."

"It's alright. Can't expect you to think of everything. I will admit that these clothes feel a little... strange."

"You look great though." He replied spontaneously, mentally slapping himself for being so bold. Fortunately, she responded well.

"Thank you." She blushed with a smirk, "Natasha said that it was all she could find to fit me at short notice. She's going to arrange for a proper wardrobe and to get my hair cut. It's a little long to deal with now."

"I can imagine after..." Steve quickly stopped what he was about to say, forcing a rethink to keep her age a secret, "...having it shorter before. You used to have it just below your shoulder blades."

"I see." She replied thoughtfully which made Steve nervous, "Well either my hair grows very quickly, or I've been captive for quite a while."

She looked at him gently, expecting an explanation that he knew he couldn't give yet. Too soon, far too soon. He was going to have to be more careful in the future. He was slipping up too easily and far too often.

"It's been a while." Steve said, purposely avoiding a specific answer. "But I have noticed that you seem a lot calmer today. Much more relaxed."

Cora smiled, looking down with an expression which showed that she knew he was avoiding the subject like the plague. Fortunately, she obviously chose to trust him and go along with it. That was his Cora alright, patience and understanding of a saint.

"I suppose our long talk last night helped to reassure me a little bit more." She replied, "Oh and thank you for the kind note you left. I will admit that it was unsettling to wake up alone for the first time, but your message helped."

"Glad to hear it. Oh..." Steve suddenly perked, realising that he was still standing in front of the door with a tray of food, "I thought you would be pretty hungry by now, so I brought you some breakfast."

Cora smiled gratefully, "Thank you, that's very thoughtful."

"You're welcome." He replied, placing the tray on the end of the bed as he quietly enjoyed her sweet English-accented manners. He had missed them. "Wasn't sure what you would want so I brought a bit of everything."

Cora smiled as she looked at the many plates and bowls squeezed onto the tray, "So I see."

"Yeah, I may have overdone it a little." He said with a slightly embarrassed laugh, looking down at his feet from old habit as his hands rested on his hips.

"You look different today." She suddenly said, her words making him look up to see her curious gaze perusing his clothes.

He quickly realised that she had only ever seen him in his dark blue tactical uniform. He was now wearing civilian clothes as he was technically off-duty, and he could imagine his current ensemble of jeans, brown boots, and a casual navy jacket over a white cotton t-shirt would be quite a contrast of normalities.

"Yeah..." He began slightly shyly as she looked at him, feeling a little self conscious, "Can't wear my uniform all the time. People at the grocery store tend to stare."

Cora giggled softly at his joke, and he felt a small crack in his heart from years ago begin to seal again. It was amazing the effect she had on him: Healing, soothing... She was his greatest medicine in a way. She had been what kept him together in his darkest moments, but was also the cause of a few when he had missed her terribly. But now, without realising it, she was mending the wounds that had been laid bare for so long that they seemed normal to him now. Steve was truly looking forward to the days ahead, having the privilege to see her alive and blossoming.

"Well don't wait on me." He said gently, walking over to the chair and sitting down casually to give her a bit of breathing space, leaning forward on his knees in the usual way he did. "Help yourself to breakfast."

"Thank you." She smirked, though she was a little unsure of what was on the tray as she sat on the bed and tucked her legs up comfortably.

Choosing a plate at random, she picked up a fork and sniffed the steaming scrambled egg, before timidly skewering a few fluffy pieces and placing them in her mouth. Her reaction was almost instant, her eyes widening as she removed the fork and began to chew: Recollection, hunger and pleasure all in one go. She quietly moaned with delight and began to stab more of the food and hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth, forgetting her manners entirely to make Steve grin at the small hamster cheeks that were forming. Obviously she was hungry.

She closed her eyes, a small scrunched smile playing on her pressed lips as she chewed with satisfaction, her little bulging cheeks filled without a care. Until she remembered that she wasn't alone, and her eyes popped open as she immediately stopped eating. Slowly, Cora looked at Steve with a sheepish gaze as a soft blush covered her round cheeks with embarrassment. He couldn't help himself as a small laugh escaped him, her look so adorable and amusing, like she had just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"I take it the eggs are good." He said brightly, watching as she quickly put down the plate and snatched a napkin from the tray to hide her full mouth, her eyes apologetic before she turned away bashfully to make him chuckle once more.

There was a moment of entertaining silence as she furiously tried to chew her food with her back to him. He waited patiently, desperately trying to get his laughter under control in case she took it badly. He had loved her enthusiasm, and would never laugh at her in a humiliating way.

Finally, she turned around with a little chagrin as she wiped her mouth, "Sorry. That was rather rude."

"No, not at all. It was actually rather sweet." He said before he could check himself. Again. It was far too easy to slip up and offer her compliments. At least he wasn't bumbling his words and unintentionally insulting her like had done a few times back in the day.

Cora blushed a little in response, and Steve sighed quietly in relief. Fortunately for him, she seemed to warm to his little idiotic affections. He just needed to keep them roped in and not allow himself to get too bold. He didn't want to cause confusion or distress. Or worse, arouse her suspicions that there was more to their past than he was telling her.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it." He added.

"I was a little more hungry than I realised." She replied with a shy laugh in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

"I completely understand. My metabolism runs four times faster than normal so I pretty much do the same thing in the mornings."

"Four times?" She queried with surprise, "Why?"

"Erm... It's a long story. I'll tell you about it some time." Steve replied, managing to dodge the subject for now. He didn't want to intimidate her by revealing he wasn't exactly a normal guy. "But by all means don't stop breakfast on my account."

Slightly tentatively but with a grateful smile, she picked up the next plate that held a small stack of warm pancakes drizzled in honey. She politely cut off a section with her fork and popped it into her mouth with anticipation. Her eyes once again showed her pleasure, only this time she controlled herself and remained civilised as she continued to cut off small pieces, but only after she had swallowed the previous ones.

Steve was mildly disappointed but amused at her discipline. She was obviously still very hungry but was determined to eat with dignity.

After a moment, she stopped, her face furrowing slightly with thought.

"What is it?" He queried gently.

"I was just thinking. You've told me a little about myself, and about SHIELD... But I don't know very much about you." She said, her eyes soft as she looked at him with her silent request.

"Well, erm..." Steve began, clearing his throat nervously as he tried to frantically think of what to say. He didn't want to tell her that he was a super soldier, and he couldn't tell her yet that he was from the 1940s and had been frozen in ice because that would then make her question just how long they had been friends. He suddenly realised that there wasn't much else to tell, which was not helpful. "I've worked for SHIELD as one of their agents for about a year now. I...er... lead a strike team on various missions. I like motorcycles? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what to tell you. My work takes up most of my life."

"Do you enjoy it?" She asked respectfully, placing a piece of pancake into her mouth to chew.

"Sometimes. In a way." He replied thoughtfully, his brow creasing with the strain of bouncing around various classified facts, "Being a soldier was all I ever wanted to be."

"Why?"

Steve paused for a moment, a familiarity of the conversation beginning to ring against an old memory: They had had a very similar discussion the first time they met.

"Erm..." He said, looking down at his knitted fingers as he tried to think of how to answer her, "To me, serving and protecting my country and it's people is an honour. And I... I guess I just want to do what's right, and to help people as best I can."

When he looked back up, he was silently startled to see her gazing back at him with a familiar smile.

"I believe you." She said gently, "And I'm sure we're better off with you protecting us."

Steve was frozen for a brief moment as she spoke those words. They were so close to what she had said all those years ago when he had answered her very similar questions, and she held the same fond and proud look as well. It was slightly bitter-sweet, fate repeating itself so closely. A part of him was thrilled by it, whilst another part mourned their lost bond.

"Thank you." He finally said.

Cora looked down from his soft stare to play with what was left of the pancakes on her plate, "So... What's going to happen now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You rescued me. I don't remember anything. And then I destroyed a hospital room because I got scared. You said I have to stay here until I can control myself but what then? What happens when I can leave? Or what if I never learn to control it? Will I have to stay here for the rest of my life?"

"No." Steve replied fervently, "You will learn, it's just going to take time and practice."

She didn't look too convinced, "Could I control it before?"

"I believe so." He replied, "I never actually knew about it, and that shows you could control your gift. And once you learn how to again, you can do whatever you want. You have a whole world and a new life to discover."

"And what if I don't want a new life?" She retorted gently, looking at him in earnest, "What if I just want my old one, whatever it was?"

Steve paused for a moment in thought before answering her with a soft smile, "Then maybe I can help you find it."

Cora smiled at his reply, her glistening eyes seemingly wetter though they held no sadness at that moment. They held hope and gratitude, "Thank you."

"Anytime." He replied with just as much platonic affection, though he couldn't push down the idea of their old life together being rekindled against all odds, "In the meantime, how about we start small?! How about I show you around? Once you've finished breakfast of course."

"So soon?" She asked, a slight hint of apprehension tainting her question.

"If you'd like."

"But... aren't you scared that I might... have another accident?" Cora asked, carefully choosing her words, "I'm not exactly reliable or safe."

Steve's brow furrowed slightly, "You're not a threat, Cora, so don't believe that you are. You're stronger than you know."

"You're very confident considering what I can do." She smirked, though there was no amusement in it.

"I have faith in you." He replied, "You'll do fine. And any time you feel overwhelmed, we'll come back here so you can relax."

"And you'll stay with me? The whole time?"

He smiled fondly, soothed by her request and soft need for his company. It sparked a response in him that he couldn't catch in time.

"Yes, ma'am."

His words instantly triggered a startled response in her, her gaze locked on him with confused thought and shock as her mouth opened and closed a few times without saying a word.

"What's wrong?" He asked, curious to know if he had just sparked a memory.

"It's..." She began, trying to make sense of what she had just felt: The words, the voice, the emotion of affection attached to it... "Those words seemed so familiar. I could almost see a memory and then... it disappeared."

Cora emotionally deflated, placing her plate on the bed to bury her disappointed face in her hands with a sigh. So close, so tormentingly close.

"Cora." He called gently, shuffling to the edge of the seat to get closer to her whilst maintaining a respectful distance.

She sniffed slightly and took a deep breath before removing her hands and wiping away the small tears that had tried to fall, determination on her features to not allow herself to succumb to grief.

"I'm alright." She replied, sniffling once more as she wiped beneath her reddened eyes, "It's just so frustrating to be taunted with a memory and then have it buried again."

"But at least you now know the memories are there." He reassured, trying to calm her away from the sorrow, "You just have to be patient."

She nodded in agreement as she slowly regained her composure, "I know."

Steve quickly tried to change the subject before it could turn into difficult questions that he wasn't ready to answer, "If you're ready... Shall we go?"

Cora smiled sweetly though he could still see the nerves biting at her beneath her calm façade, "I'm ready."