August 24, 1934

"Good morning, Maddi!" My Aunt Lily said as I walked into the kitchen. I had been doing better since I left John, spending more time with my friends and family. He didn't bother me after our last encounter, and he no longer went to our school since he graduated in the spring. Alice was talking to me again, but none of the other girls I used to spend time with would anymore. Alice was a sweet person, she felt very bad about not sticking by me earlier because she wanted the other girls to still talk to her. They didn't talk to either of us anymore. My Aunt had made me breakfast so we could spend time before I went to school. It took me a while to feel comfortable around her and Uncle Ryan. I knew they were family, but I had never met them before and I missed my family in Tennessee every day. I missed my Daddy and brother Alex, and I missed my mama but I couldn't remember her as much. It made me sad everyday that it became harder for me to remember her, but Aunt Lily made it easier. They were sisters, and Aunt Lily was caring like I remembered my mother being. I eventually became more comfortable around her, and we were closer after I was able to tell her what happened with John. "You did the right thing, leaving him. You are a sweet and smart girl who deserves a sweet and smart man," she had said. My summer went well, Alice set me up on a couple blind dates, but they really weren't anything special. Both guys took me out dancing, and I was nervous the first time. Alex taught me how to dance when I was younger, but I hadn't danced since then. It got easier, and the first date was nice, but I was too worried I would fall too hard again like with John.

October 15, 1934 (STEVE'S POV)

"You should ask her out some time," Bucky told me as we saw Maddi say goodbye to her Alice and head our way.

"You know I can't do that," I replied giving him an annoyed side glance. He had not stopped trying to get me to ask her for months. Maddi has been on several dates with a few guys, and each time it hurt a little that it wasn't me. I didn't blame her, she was beautiful so of course guys would want to go out with her. I knew she would never date me, I look nothing like any of the guys she has been with, and I couldn't bare to lose her over that. I was more than happy to just be her best friend.

"She may not know it completely yet Rogers, but she's definitely got a thing for you. She's both our friend, sure, but she looks at you differently and I think you should be together." I waved him off as Maddi was getting into earshot.

"Hello boys, I don't work tonight so what do you wanna do?" I had helped her find a new job a couple months after she quit her old one. She worked at a small flower shop near my house, my mother knew the owner and he offered me the job but I knew she would want it more. He saw how well Maddi worked and was happy to give her the job. His hours are much less than when she worked at the diner, and she told me how happy she felt there making extra money but still having time for everyone else in her life.

"We figured we could just go over to Bucky's house," I said hoping it sounded good.

"Perfect, I'm not really up to being out doing too much right now anyway. I would love a nice evening with you and the whole Barnes family," She stated with a smile. We had a nice walk over, and I thought about how I hadn't held her hand since the day she broke up with Kinney. I knew I shouldn't try again, that was a one time thing because she was scared.

November 13, 1934

We had been learning a higher level of science in class this year, but much of it was familiar to me by the books I would find in the library. I knew it was strange for a girl to be so interested in science, but I couldn't help be fascinated by everything I learned of physics, biology, chemistry. Our teacher, Ms. Jackson, soon saw how I excelled above all the other students in what we learned. She started finding me more books to take home, problems to solve, math to learn to accompany the science I was doing. Each time I impressed her with how easily it came to me. After school one day, she asked me to stay behind to talk.

"Have you considered what you want to do after secondary school, Madeline?" She asked me.

"I'm not sure. I would like to find some money to maybe get some degree like teaching, but that doesn't seem too plausible for me at the moment." I had a feeling that hopefully I'll eventually have a more steady boyfriend, someone to rely on each other for. My mother never worked when she was alive, but my Aunt Lily worked hard in a factory every day along with Uncle Ryan. I just didn't see how money was going to work out in my favor when it came to more education.

"I want to help you go farther than that because I really believe you can. You're very gifted in these subjects, Madeline, and I want do everything I can to help you get into a college where you can keep learning more." I looked at her like she was crazy. How could she begin to help me do what she wants to do?

"Ms Jackson, I'm a poor girl from brooklyn. Universities don't want people like me. Even if they did, Science is not something any girl would have an easy time being taken seriously for.

"I think you're different. I see that fascination that I had when I was younger, and I wish I had pushed myself to go farther than teaching. I know men in these fields will have a hard time adjusting to someone like you, but you have a brighter mind than anyone I have met in a long time." I thought for a minute what she was saying. There was just no way. Getting a degree in a major science field just isn't something any girl ever considers, especially girls who don't have the financial ability to do so. "We can find a way to get those schools to notice you. It doesn't have to be a big fancy school, but someone will have to accept you into their science department. You'll be surprised how affordable we can find state universities to be, especially right here in New York City. If you really want it, and you work hard at it, I believe you can get there."

"I guess I never really thought about what I wanted, but the idea of being a real scientist, developing and working with new ideas we have never even heard of sounds almost like a dream. I mean it is a dream, but if you believe I can do it…"

"I do believe you can, dear." She smiled at me and I trusted her. She was probably my favorite teacher, and I if she truly thought I could do it, then I had to try. I nodded at her with a grin to affirm I wanted to work towards this. "I'm excited to work with you on this. I believe physics is the one for you, and there are women who have already made their way into this field. Not a lot, but more than you would think."

"Okay, I'll start researching that then," I said without being able to contain my smile. I had a direction for the rest of my life, no matter how difficult it may be to achieve. I had a wave of motivation and determination to make this happen for myself.

February 9, 1935 (STEVE'S POV)

I had been helping Maddi looking at colleges and researching science programs for the past couple of months. It wasn't really my thing, but it made her happy and I love making her happy. As we were in the library, she turned to me and said "We should look for art school for you as well."

"I don't know, Maddi. That's probably not the best idea for me." I said this becoming shy, which only happens sometimes around her anymore. I always feel a rush of energy by her still, but I don't get too shy anymore since she is my closest friend next to Bucky.

"Come on, Steve! It's a perfect idea! Your artwork is amazing and I know it's something you love to work on. You've been so kind helping me, I'm going to help you with this too." She didn't give me a chance to protest as she was up looking for books and news articles on art school and art contests to help pay. She spent the rest of the time telling me different opportunities for paying as art school generally was a little more than other fields of interest. She always made me feel special and worth more than I thought I was.

March 3, 1935

I sat in the hospital with Uncle Ryan waiting to hear what happened to Aunt Lily. She was feeling completely fine until all of a sudden should couldn't stand anymore and she was barely breathing. I was talking with her in the kitchen about school when it happened and I called for Uncle Ryan in fear. We got her to the hospital and the doctors were trying to figure what went wrong as we continued to sit and wait in silence. I tried not to cry because I didn't want to believe it was something serious. I had been telling her my plans for getting a degree in physics and she had been so happy. She told me she was proud of me and couldn't wait to see my dreams play out. I could imagine telling the rest of my family and hoped they would have been just as proud of my plans. Science was becoming something very important to me and the fact it made Aunt Lily happy made me want it even more. I hadn't felt this way about something since my father got me so into music. He had the most wonderful singing voice I had ever heard, and he taught me different songs and I learned out to sing from him. I haven't sung since. Bucky and Steve asked once, but I told them the last time I sung was with my daddy and they dropped the subject. All these thoughts kept running through my head as the doctor finally came out and Uncle Ryan stood up immediately. Him and I had never become as close as I had with Aunt Lily because he was a relatively closed off man.

"Sir, I need to talk to you about your wife," the doctor said with a tone I couldn't understand. He then proceeded to tell him Aunt Lily had a heart attack. I stayed sitting stunned and could barely hear the man say "She died shortly after being admitted here." I was crying before I even realized what was happening. I had always hated that part of me: I cried too much. I didn't remember much about my mother getting sick and dying, but I knew it was nowhere near as fast as her sister's death. My mama had several months of feeling weak and in pain before she passed, Aunt Lily had a few hours.

March 5, 1935

I held Steve's hand at the funeral. It had been so long since I held his hand and I realized I never should have stopped. Just the small contact brought me so much comfort, he didn't even need to say anything to make me feel better. We sat in the church and I couldn't really process any of the words being said. We went to the cemetery and I just never let go of his hand. I knew some people probably saw it as inappropriate for us to be doing so at such a time, but I wouldn't have been able to stand through it all without him there. Uncle Ryan hadn't said much to me in the past couple of days. I never knew what to say and I'm sure he really didn't either. He knew Aunt Lily much longer than I had, and it was clearly taking a toll on him. The funeral was small. We had no family living near us, and so it was some neighbors, church friends, a couple people she worked with. I felt very lonely thinking how Uncle Ryan was my last family member I really had left, and he wasn't even directly related to me. As this thought ran through my head, Steve squeezed my hand bringing me to the present. He was looking at me with a concerned look and I realized I wasn't alone. Bucky stood to my other side and I knew I could get through this with both of them there for me, they helped so much during the last time I lost someone so close.

*A/N: Sorry if you guys feel I'm rushing a bit, I know I jumped the timeline pretty fast and I have a lot of storylines I want to fit in without it feeling like it is dragging. I want to get to the good parts of her relationship with Steve while also fully developing her character. Lots of what happens now affects what I have in store for later in Maddi's story. I'm so grateful for 30 hearts, yay! Keep commenting your thoughts and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!*