**A/N: So there's some Agents of SHIELD spoilers in here. All about Coulson and his recovery. So read with caution to that.

Also, something that I feel is important to get out there:

So I was recently made aware that Bethany was coming off as someone with low self esteem and was therefore dragging everyone down. I wasn't aware that she was like that, so I just want to remind people that if there is anything about the characters that annoy you, please feel free to let me know through a review or personal message (I read both and take them both very seriously). Honestly, I never intended for Bethany to be like that, and so this knowledge was a strange awakening to me, but I'm glad that it's been made known so I can focus on making Bethany more like the person i've always intended her to be. Your reviews only make me and the characters better.

I'm a little protective over Bethany and may not agree with your opinions, but I truly believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and that I can learn something from someone else. I'll never beg for reviews, but they do make my day and make me think hard about where the story and Bethany is going.

Without further ado...

Chapter 26

"Agent Stark, what is that?" Director Fury asked as Bethany and Steve walked into his office at the Triskelion.

Bethany rolled her eyes, holding Molly's cat carrier closer to her body. "She's a cat. And she would be in my apartment if you didn't summon me here as soon as we landed. I thought I could see my new place before coming back to work."

"Who brings their cat on vacation with them?" Hill asked, standing in the corner of Fury's office.

"What else was I supposed to do with her?" Bethany threw back.

"You told me on the phone that it was important," Fury reminded her, bringing the attention back to him.

"Well," Bethany said switching her grip on the carrier. "I figured you'd be busy and I'd be put at the bottom of the important list. Not right at the top. Although, I could get used to this."

"We are very busy Stark," Hill pressed. "Not everyone can take a vacation in a time of crisi-"

"Hey, I would've stayed an extra week if needed. Fury assured me that everything was handl-"

"Can you both just stop?" Fury demanded, growing tired of the never-ending Stark-Hill battle. "And focus on the issue at hand?"
Bethany grumbled under her breath. "The floor is yours, Steve."

"Captain?" Fury asked, surprised that it was Steve who had something to ask.

Steve folded his hands behind his back, taking in a deep breath. "After doing some thinking, I've learned I can't live a normal life. I can't go back to the day to day motions that I had before the war. When I woke up, I questioned my existence a little. After the battle, I felt like I had a purpose."

"It sounds like you're asking for a job, Rogers," Fury said, putting his hands on his hips.

"That's exactly what I am asking, sir."

Fury and Hill exchanged a quick look, Hill shrugging. "It's not a bad idea. Especially after the last few weeks."

"Couldn't hurt to have the greatest soldier in history on our side," Fury agreed. "Agent Stark?"
"Don't look at me," Bethany insisted, putting one hand up in a surrendering motion. "If this is what he wants, I'm not going to stand in his way. He seems pretty determined, and I know better than to get in the middle of him and determination."

"Alright," Fury said with a curt nod. "Welcome to SHIELD, Captain."

Bethany watched as the side of Steve's lip quirked ever so much before it returned to one of professionalism. "Thank you, Director."

"You're not going to start him on Level 1, are you?" Bethany asked, finally putting Molly's carrier down, much to the cat's dismay. "If Steve can take me out, he at least deserves a higher standing."

"He's taken you out?" Hill said, with a hint of a smile, ideas of watching the agent surrendering dancing through her mind.

"I was off my A-game," Bethany replied starkly.

Fury took a seat behind his desk. "Where would you recommend?"
"Level 6?" Bethany suggested. "Natasha and Clint are there. I think he's proven that he can keep up. After some more training, introducing him to new fighting techniques, he'll fit right in."

Fury nodded. "I agree. Level 6 is a good place. How's that sound Rogers?"

"Truthfully sir," Steve began. "I'm just glad to be of service."

"You're here at a good time," Fury explained. "Lots to do. Clean up has been extensive, but a lot of Chitauri weapons are still out there. There's reason to believe that they've reached the black market and some powerful enemies have some on hand. Hill? Can you take Rogers to registration and set up his profile. I need to have a private word with Agent Stark."

"Yes sir," Hill responded automatically. Bethany touched Steve's arm lovingly for a second, giving him a tight lipped smile before he left the room. As the door closed, the shades were drawn and Bethany pulled up a chair.

"I assume you want the rundown on Coulson," Fury began as Molly let out an angry meow.

"Sorry, she's not used to confinement," Bethany explained, watching as Molly tried to poke her paw out of the holes.

"Is anybody?" Fury asked realistically. "Now, back to Agent Coulson. He's officially recovering away from the Guest House. The drug proved to be successful. I'm under the impression you've come to understand where the drug came from."

"If it's from the Guest House, then yes. You're still experimenting on it?" Bethany asked, thinking back to the alien creature SHIELD found years ago, and had ever since been testing on it, trying to unlock the secrets its body held. Truthfully, she didn't agree with any of it. It was still a living creature, and she could relate to it. For years, she feared being tested on, poked and prodded, but slowly her fear disappeared. Her blood couldn't help anyone but herself, so any interest in her was slim to none.

"New age, new technology," Fury explained. "The point is, it worked."

"Then why not have this in the system? Not perfect it? Now use it to help more people?"

"Because we're not sure what'll come of it," Fury explained. "It's dangerous. If the time comes, we'll look into it, but until then, it'll stay at the Guest House where it belongs. No one can know about this. Not even Coulson. Understood?"

"If that's what you want," Bethany said with a light sigh. "How are you going to explain all of this to him?"

"Miracles," Fury shrugged. "They happen every day. As of right now, Coulson is just grateful to be alive."

"I'm assuming you're covering all your bases," Bethany furthered the conversation. "What are we telling him? Telling everyone?"

"Did you tell Rogers about Coulson's recovery?" Fury asked suddenly.

"You told me not too," Bethany reminded him calmly. "I don't like lying to him, but I understand compartmentalization. Why? Are we keeping it a secret? Forever?"

"For the time being," Fury explained. "Things didn't… go as smoothly as we hoped they would. Coulson was… begging for death. He was going through traumatic things as he was recovering, and in mind of that, we altered his memories. He believes he spent the last few weeks recovering in Tahiti."

"Slick lying there Nick," Bethany said, picking at some dirt under her nails. "Where is he now?"

"He's here. We rented him an apartment, and he has a SHIELD nurse watching over him."

"Is this so you can keep a close eye on him?" Bethany questioned, turning her head at the sound of Molly's meow. "This is just… did we do the right thing?"

"He's alive, isn't he?"

Bethany shook her head. "If we did the right thing, we wouldn't have to lie. And here we are, drowning in them."

"We're spies," Fury reminded her.

"Lying to our own just doesn't feel right. Especially Coulson."

Fury leaned forward. "I didn't make the mistake in trusting you, did I?"

"No," Bethany groaned. "I'll keep anything a secret that you ask me to. Anything. I just need to get these worries out before I see Steve and he sees right through me."

"I'm a little surprised that you don't have a problem with him joining SHIELD," Fury admitted.

"I'm not an idiot," Bethany reminded him. "And I won't let him get in the way of my job. And I think after the alien invasion, we can agree that Steve keeps his eyes on the prize."

"You two will be spending a lot of time together. With living together and now working together."

"Making up for lost time," Bethany said with a shrug. "Speaking of time; before I left, Bruce and I had a conversation about possibly looking into reversing the effects of the serum in my body. I know SHIELD has been studying it for years, but never with the direct intention of un-doing it. I'd like permission to show Bruce my medical files so we can work on-"

"Director," Maria's voice rang through the office comm. "We've completed what we could of Captain Rogers' profile, but we can't finalize it without a doctor's examination, yet the doctors say that aren't authorized to fill out the information."

"Stark will be there in a minute," Fury told her, giving Bethany a shrug. "You have my permission. I'll feel more comfortable having a SHIELD doctor in on this as well. You can chose whoever you see fit."

"Thank you. And before I leave, where's Coulson staying?" Bethany asked, standing up and picking up Molly's carrier.

"I'll send you the address," Fury promised. "Just don't make me regret-"

"Nick, it's fine. I've been doing this longer than you've been alive. I know what's at stake. I'm not going to mess this up just because I'm emotionally involved."

Bethany met Steve in an empty examination room. She had left Molly in her office, letting the feline stretch while she did her job. Pulling on a lab coat, she smiled. It felt good to not only be back at work, but to be examining a patient. She hardly ever got to pull out that medical degree she so badly wanted in 1939.

"Why couldn't the other doctors examine me?" Steve asked as Bethany picked up the scanner pad to write the information down.

"Because a) I am the head of anything related to the super soldier program and b) you are said super soldier. Although, I guess that means I'm in charge of Bruce's health too, since the Hulk was a failed attempt."

"Does that mean you're the doctor for yourself?" He asked, sitting on the examination table.

"In a way," Bethany said. "I'm not really sure, but I'm more complicated than you. I can even understand Bruce's body better than mine. Take off your shirt."

Steve followed orders, sitting on the table in just his tank top. "What first?"

"The usual," Bethany said with a smirk. "I already have your height and weight, but I need to check your heartbeat and lungs, take a few blood samples."

"Just blood samples?" Steve asked, voice even.

Bethany chuckled. "As far as I know of. Although, it could be a benefit for us to see if spermicide would work."

"What?" Steve asked.

"It's a type of birth control," Bethany explained, listening to his heartbeat.

"How many are there?" Steve asked as Bethany jotted something down on the electronic pad.

"You wanna do fifty jumping jacks?" She asked, jumping up on the table as he got off. "And a lot. Not all of them, excuse me, none of them are 100% effective, which means for us, they'll be less so. Actually, the only birth control method that is 100% effective is absence, but what fun is that?"

As Steve performed his jumping jacks, he laughed. "Don't let anyone tell you that you changed. You haven't. At all."

"Well I hope I have a little," Bethany said, her legs kicking as they dangled off the edge of the table.

"You're more mature," Steve added. "Could you use more than one method together?"

"Birth control?" Bethany clarified. "Yeah, just not latex and latex. It'll tear. Everything varies from 90-99 percent effective if done correctly. I mean, we could do a diaphragm, birth control pill and pull out met- I think you're done."

"Oh," Steve said, realizing that he had definitely passed fifty. He moved forward and Bethany listened to his heartbeat once more.

"Amazing," Bethany muttered. "I will never get over this. Not after taking your vitals and measurements from before."

"You've known me longer like this than not," Steve said, taking half a step closer to her, their faces almost touching.

He watched as she swallowed heavily, her eyes fluttering over him quickly. "Yeah? Well sometimes I miss that boy who knew what personal space meant."

One of his hands rested on her knee, his forehead against hers. "Are we done here, Dr. Stark?"

"Almost," she whispered, pushing him away lightly. "I still need a blood sample."

She hopped off the table, swaying slightly, feeling all sense leaving her head. "I hate you for doing this to me."

"Doing what?" Steve asked, but smiled as he watched her stumble to a cabinet to get out the supplies she needed.

"That thing you do," she explained vaguely. "You know, where you look me up and down so subtly and so carefully. Not insulting, but it's just," she turned around to face him, looking completely frazzled. "You did it when I first examined you too. You were redder than a tomato, but the way you were looking at me. I dreamt about it maybe one too many times before we were together."

"You-you dreamed about me?" He asked with a smile, sitting on the table as she made her way over.

"On occasion, but I didn't make anything of them."

She prepped his arm and then proceeded to extract some blood. "I dreamt about you, if that helps," Steve tried.

"When I left the room, back on that day…" She started slowly, hoping he'd catch on. "Did you… think about me? I won't be mad if you didn't-"

"You know that way I looked at you? Well you looked at me a certain way that day too," Steve explained, stumbling only once. "You were engraved in my head ever since then." Bethany looked away, but Steve could see the flattered smile on her face. "Even when I tried to move on, I couldn't."

"I'm done," Bethany told him, taking the needle out of his arm.

"That's significantly less than before," Steve said, reaching for his shirt. Bethany put the blood sample in the designated fridge before rummaging through the cupboards. "What are you doing?"

"It's SHIELD," Bethany said, as if that explained everything. "Now if I didn't spend the last 70 years being more celibate than a scared church girl, then I would've developed them myself."

"What are you talking about?" Steve asked, unbuckling his pants to tuck in his now buttoned shirt.

"One-hundred percent effective birth control," she said. "You know what? We could do surgeries. Although, I feel uncomfortable asking you of it, so I could get my tubes tied."

"I don't know what that means, but it doesn't sound safe," Steve said, crossing his arms.

"For normal people, no. For me, yes."

"I don't want to risk that," he insisted. "I'm not risking you just so we can have fun for a couple of minutes."

"'A couple of minutes'?" Bethany exclaimed. "If it only lasted a couple of minutes, we wouldn't be having this conversation, Rogers."

Steve shook his head, laughing. He walked over to her, putting his arms around her waist and picking her up. "We need to cut you off all together."
"No," Bethany said, actually looking terrified. "You wouldn't."

"I will if you continue to act like this," Steve said, putting her down, but not letting her go. "Personally, I can wait. And I thought we were going to be more than just a couple who has sex all the time."

"But it's the best part!" Bethany declared passionately as the door opened. "Dr. Streiten!" She called out surprised as Steve released his grip on her.

"Sorry, I should've knocked," the doctor said with a small embarrassed smile. "Director Fury said you were in here Agent Stark, and I wanted a quick word with you before you left."

Steve excused himself, sensing their need to talk privately. "Down the hall and on your left, number 413, that's my office. It should be unlocked, just be careful of Molly," Bethany directed as Steve left. "So what's this about?"
"Coulson," Dr. Streiten said simply.

"What about Coulson…" Bethany trailed, not sure what he knew.

"I was there," he elaborated. "I'm the one who administrated the drug. Fury said you had some apprehensions on if what we did was right. And I agree with you. If it was up to me, I wouldn't have made the call."

"It's hard to tell," Bethany said sighing. "I mean, I know what it's like to wish you're dead, and then being grateful that you get another day. Pain is a strange thing. It makes even the simplest of things nonsense."

"It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one questioning the moral ethics," Dr. Streiten explained.

"Saving a man is moral," Bethany concluded. "But I'll never know whether it applies to this situation. Dr. Streiten, I'm actually glad you're here. There's something I need to ask you about."

"Is it personal?"

She nodded. "I read in my medical profile that you did some testing on my cells last year. I was wondering if you'll continue to do so. I-I'm trying to reverse the effects of the serum, but I know next to nothing on my own body. I have Banner's help, but at this point, I need everything I can get."

He nodded contemplatively. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with what I saw when I came in, does it?"

Bethany sighed. "Every second he's getting older, and I'm still the same. I want to get married and have kids, and I just feel like this is holding me back. And I know it won't happen overnight, and I'm okay with that. Steve and I still have things to figure out, and I'm not done with SHIELD yet. But I want this option. I can't pass up another life with him."

The doctor paused for a moment before giving her a small smile. "When I first met you Agent Stark, I was terrified of you."

Bethany laughed, "Really? Why?"

"Because everyone in SHIELD knew who you were, but no one in the real world did. You were the embodiment of everything SHIELD is. It was intimidating. And you carried very little emotion with you. But a month with him, and it's changed you completely."

"It's only made me who I was before," Bethany explained. "But does that mean you'll help me?"

He chuckled, walking to the door. "Agent Stark, everyone at SHIELD is dying to work with you in some way or another. It's a privilege."

Steve approved of the apartment immensely. There was an old fashion feel to it that it was comfortable, but had some modern day fixations in it as well. Steve and Bethany's things were in boxes, waiting to be unpacked, Molly jumping on them, biting into the cardboard.

"Home sweet home," Bethany said as she flopped on the couch. "We're moving this by the way. Bad placement."

Steve sat down beside her and nodded. "Anything you want."

"Did Hill tell you when your training begins?" Bethany asked, taking his hand in hers and playing with his fingers.

"Tomorrow at nine," Steve told her. "I'm supposed to meet someone named 'Brock Rumlow'?"

"Oh he's great," Bethany told him, intertwining their fingers together. "Fantastic fighter. The amount of different combat styles he knows is insane. You'll be in good hands. So how does it feel? You're an official SHIELD agent."

"Like I'm a part of something great again," Steve admitted. "Are you going in tomorrow?"
She shook her head. "I have some errands to run. I'll actually be flying into New York for a couple hours for Tony's birthday, but I'll be back in time for dinner. You know what would be a good idea?"

"Ordering dinner and watching a movie?" Steve asked, the idea sounding good to himself.

"That's not what I was going to say but yes," Bethany said, taking her phone of her pocket. "No, I was thinking we could go out and buy some furniture that we both like. Most of my stuff needs replacing anyways, and this way it'll be like this place is ours."

"I like the sound of that," Steve told her with a smile. "What are you ordering?"

"Pizza?" Bethany asked with a shrug. "What kind of movie are you interested in watching tonight? Action? Comedy? Kids?"

"Action," Steve said, getting off the couch and collecting Molly into his arms. "I think I'm ready to crack into that World War Two movie list of yours."

Pressing the phone to her ear, waiting for the pizza place to pick up, she brought her legs up onto the couch. "There's some insanely good movies about the war. It's a make-no-mistake industry. Some of them are violent, but so touchin- Yeah, hi. I'd like to put in an order for four large pepperoni pizzas, the pepperoni on top of the cheese, please, under the name Rogers."

Steve smiled, watching as she used his name, their address and much to his pleasure (because he was tired of her paying for everything), his credit card. As his fingers massaged behind Molly's head, her purring loud, he looked out the window.

It was weird permanently living somewhere other than New York, but he understood that it was time for a change. Everything had either changed, or was going to and he would just have to get used to it. Better follow it and embrace the change than fight it. It wasn't all bad. Things were easier, and the food was a lot better.

As she hung up, she let out a long sigh. "They said forty minutes, so we should probably get started on unpacking some of these boxes."

Steve nodded, letting Molly jump away, going to curl up on the couch. "Where should we start?" He asked, holding out his hand to help pull her off the couch.

"Your stuff?" She suggested. "Less of it for starters, and I'm actually curious to what was in storage. Howard handled all of that, so it'll be a real treat."

As they started towards the box clearly marked 'Steve's Things', they began a trip down memory lane. In a long box was Steve's military uniform on a mannequin. Bethany's fingers traced down the buttons, smiling fond in memory. "There was such a class of those days that doesn't exist anymore. How I loved to see men in these. So elegant. Such sophistication. This is going in the bedroom."

Steve didn't fight her, just nodded and open up the next box, chuckling. "Let's hope your brother didn't look in these," he said pulling out his old sketch books, knowing that one or two—okay maybe ten—of the drawings in there were scandalous.

"Do you think Howard personally packed all this?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, that-that doesn't sound like Howard," Steve agreed with a chuckle, pulling over a chair from the kitchen table and sitting down. He gestured for Bethany to sit on his lap as they opened one of the black leather books, remembering a time of ladies and gentlemen, of pin curls and military suits.

Watching as Steve's bike zoomed down the street, Bethany quickly left the apartment and made her way to Coulson's temporary place. It took her a while to find it, hidden in typical Fury fashion, but she found it nonetheless. Knocking on his apartment door, Rachel Bradlee opened it.

"Agent Stark," she said, completely surprised.

"I take it Fury didn't tell you I was coming," Bethany said, stepping into the apartment. "How are you?"

"Better than the last time you saw me," Rachel admitted.

Bethany chuckled, remembering the last time she saw the SHIELD nurse and her almost passing out since Bethany was missing not one, not two, but all five of her fingers. Basically her whole hand. Bones took a while to grow back, and while she completed the mission, Fury insisted she wait in the medical ward until her fingers grew back. "Well I'm all in one piece now, so you can relax. Where is he?"

"Down the hall," Rachel pointed. "He's… recovering. Lucky bastard. I can't believe they were able to revive him."

Bethany gave her a small smile, positive that she knew nothing about the Guest House or the drug that SHIELD used on him, as she was only Level 8, and this seemed like a Level 10 priority. There was no way Fury would give her that information at her low level. "What did Fury tell you?"
"Just to keep a really close eye on him," Rachel explained with a shrug. "Which is not that surprising. But what is is the fact that he told me that any change at all, not just medical but personality wise I should contact him."

"Post-traumatic stress," Bethany explained. "If we cover the bases as soon as they happen, then it'll be easier to get him through it. I'm kinda on a clock, so I just came to see him quickly."

Rachel nodded, understandingly. "Like I said, just down the hall."

After making her way down the hall, she walked into a room where Coulson was in a bed, watching none other than Super Nanny.

"This again?" She joked as she stepped in.

Coulson's face immediately lit up. "Bethany! What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like? Finding out how you are. I would've been here sooner," She began sitting on the seat next to his bed. "But I was on vacation. Although that's no excuse. I should've been there when you woke up."

"I'm just happy you know," Coulson added, moving in his bed a little. "Here to bust me out?"

"Not even close," Bethany told him. "You're on bed rest until Fury says otherwise, mister."

"Well at least tell me what's going on at SHIELD."

Bethany began to tell him the little that she knew. "I mean, I just got back yesterday, but I'm under the impression that everything has basically been clean up and containment. I'm itching for an assignment though."

"You been cleared?" He asked, turning the TV on mute.

"I'm not sure actually," Bethany admitted. "But if it was up to me, then yes. I feel fine. Great actually. Better than Dr. Selvig anyways. He's spiraling down the crazy road. And that's coming from me."

"But you're good?" Coulson checked.

"It's me who should be worried about you," Bethany reminded him. "How are you doing?"

"Besides wanting to leave this bed? I'm good," Phil promised. "But I want to hear about you and Steve."

"Of course you do," Bethany responded with a smirk. "Well, we moved into a new apartment here in DC yesterday. He's officially a member of SHIELD and we spent the last couple weeks talking about what we want from life, and none of it included finishing missions or world peace. Sure, that's clearly something on both of our minds, but it was nice to just focus on what I wanted for once."

"I take it you two are on good terms then," Coulson said with a smile. "He's a great guy."

"I know," Bethany said softly. "He's the best. He asked about your funeral and when it was, and it killed me that I had to lie to him and tell him that your family just wanted something private. But if you really did die, he would've been there."

"Did you see what Fury did to my trading cards?" Coulson asked.

Bethany laughed, "Yeah. I'm sorry about that. Where are they?"

Coulson reached over into his bedside table and pulled them out, secure in a tin box. "I spent my entire life collecting these."

"You want to give them to me, and I'll see what I can do?" Bethany suggested. "I'm quite good at getting what I want."

Phil had graciously let Bethany borrow Lola, his hovercraft car, when she told him she was flying into New York to see Tony. Bethany was honored considering he let her leave with not only his car, but his trading cards, basically the two most important things in Phil's life.

As she crossed the border to New York, she landed the car and made her way to the main roads. She smiled at how smooth the car had flown, as if it was created for that purpose alone. Oh Howard, she thought with a wicked grin. If only you could be here now so I could rub this in your face.

She turned up the radio, the wind no longer drowning it out. Driving down the busy road, a familiar song played. "I'm never gonna dance again. Guilty feet have got no rhythm," She sang along with George Michael. The song had always been a soft spot with her, but she could never help but sing with the beautiful lyrics.

"I should have known better than to cheat a friend, and waste a chance that I've been given. So I'm never gonna dance again."

She had promised to teach Steve how to dance. It had been the one thing he asked for in their relationship, something as simple as swaying to the music in each other's arms. Having to fake a foot injury for weeks and their breakup had prevented her from fulfilling her promise. The song spoke to her in so many ways. She never danced with anyone else, since she had been unable to dance with Steve.

And how she used to love dancing. Everything had changed after the Pearl Harbour and the war. Dancing didn't seem like such a big deal. Sure, she wouldn't deny a man a dance, but it didn't mean anything more than dancing. In fact, her last dance partner was Bucky, and that clearly went nowhere.

I…I kissed Bucky, Bethany realized, stopping at a red light. I almost slept with him too. It was so weird, remembering that time, before being exposed to Steve's everything and becoming addicted to him. There was actually a time when she tried to convince everyone, including herself, that she wasn't interested in him Like that was even a possibility. It felt like another life. As if it was someone else completely who experienced all of that and Bethany was watching it on a movie screen.

"Happy birthday," Bethany said walking into the lab where Tony and Bruce were working… or more like playing as the two men didn't seem to be on the edge of breaking. "I brought you doughnuts and a Whopper, since I don't know what to get a billionaire. Food seemed to be a good way to go."

Tony's face lit up, at the food or Bethany herself, she wasn't sure, but he gracefully took the food she was juggling. "I didn't know you were back."

"Yesterday," Bethany nodded, giving Bruce a small wave. "Steve and I realized we can't be on vacation more than a week without wanting an assignment."

"Dudley Do Right working for SHIELD?" Tony asked before shoving the burger into his mouth.

"Be nice," Bethany scolded. "But yes. And I guess I'm grateful, since as a super soldier, there's no way I could get him to do something simple like an office job. It's better than him enlisting and going off to fight in another war. I brought these for you Bruce."

He waited as she pulled out a huge stack of papers from her bag. "Why do you have Les Misérables in your bag?" Tony asked regarding the stack of papers.

"It's my medical file," Bethany explained as Bruce put on his glasses and picked up the first page. "Or at least, everything relevant to the serum. My actual medical file is probably twice as big."

"I'll start on these right away," Bruce assured her. "Is Fury okay with me seeing these?"

"Yes," Bethany nodded. "He's insisted that a SHIELD doctor also be a part of it, and I've selected Dr. Streiten. He's a very moral individual, something rare itself in an organization like SHIELD. But in a situation like this, that's what I want."

"So you're actually going to get rid of your healing capabilities?" Tony asked, mouth full with a doughnut. "Because that's the coolest thing about you."

"I'm still on the fence. And to be honest, I think Steve is as well. We haven't really talked about it, but there's a certain sense of comfort on not being hurt. Steve doesn't have to worry about me, and I don't have to worry about me. We can get the job done. But…" she trailed off, fingers tapping against the cool metal table. "But I want a family one day. And I want to be able to age with them."

"Here it says that the reason your blood doesn't heal other people is because the regenerative powers lies in your cells," Bruce said, flipping a page. "Have they ever tried using your cells to heal someone else?"

"Yeah, back in '04 actually. But when I'm hurt, it's the cells in my body that are damaged. They don't replicate themselves or anything-"

"Because they just heal instead," Bruce finished. "Okay, well I'll keep looking through this and see where we should start. I'd like to collect some blood and cell samples when the time comes, but for now, I just want to familiarize myself with this."

"You're stealing my friend," Tony whined. "We were working on a new Iron Man suit."

"He was mine first," Bethany reminded him. "I knew him before the Hulk incident."

"My only worry," Bruce said, clearly ignoring the Stark family spat. "Is that I'll bring permanent damage to you trying to undo this. That's something else you'll have to consider."

Bethany nodded. "I know. But what's the point in living my life if I'm stuck in neutral?"

"Is this all because of Ice Cappuccino?" Tony asked, picking up another doughnut. "It's not healthy to change for a guy, Bethany."

"I'm not changing," Bethany explained. "I changed without him. Now I'm just… falling back to where I was."

"Tony, I asked you to pick up- Oh Bethany! You're back!" Pepper said excitedly as she walked into the lab.

"Just yesterday," Bethany answered. "I'm glad I caught you actually. I have a favor to ask of you. It needs to be kept on the down low and ultimately needs to be perfect."

"Sounds like a challenge," Pepper said seriously, before breaking into a smile. "Sign me up."

If you told Steve that he would be getting a mission within the first week of joining SHIELD, he would've said you were lying. But here he was, dressed in his Captain America suit, shield in hand, following Bethany as they walked into the White House.

So it wasn't a raid or anything. But it was an assignment, and from the sound of it, important. He was glad to help in any way he could, and he wasn't complaining about the company, but was a little more than surprised to be paired with Bethany in the first place. He figured Fury would assign them on different missions.

He was wishing that he was wearing something as casual as Bethany was. Not the black pencil skirt and cream coloured short sleeved blouse, but pants and a button up top. He'd even take his 1940's uniform over the brightly coloured and form fitting Captain America tights. He hadn't really thought about it as Fury presented him with the repaired suit, as it saw more action than it was intended to.

"They'll be able to see you coming," Bethany said with a smirk. "You can't wear that on missions. It's too bright. They'll see you coming a mile away."

"I was just thinking the same thing," Steve admitted. "But I'm not wearing those SHIELD jumpsuits."

"Play around with designs," Bethany said with a shrug. "Make it however you want it to be. Ah, Mr. President."

The President smiled as Steve and Bethany walked up to him. "Good afternoon, Captain Rogers. And Agent...?"

Bethany looked at Steve for a minute before smiling. "Agent Bethany Stark. I'm here as a rep from the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division."

"SHIELD," Steve explained.

"Finally," The President expressed. "I've been trying to get a hold of you guys for weeks."

"We've been a little… preoccupied. But I've been sent to clear up anything you, your board and the people need to know. Well, anything you're authorized to hear."

"Call a press conference," The President said to the man beside him. "I want it set up in less than an hour. As for us," he said gesturing between himself, Bethany and Steve. "We're going to have a little talk."

After an hour, the President satisfied with what Steve and Bethany told him, the press conference was set up. "Who will be speaking?"

"I will," Bethany said automatically. "I also would like to use this time to discuss another matter, Mr. President. It's relevant, I promise. And evidently the people want to know."

"By all means," he said, leading them out to the stage. He briefly spoke to the selected crowd, all with cameras and microphones while Bethany tapped her toe.

"You don't have to do this now," Steve told her.

"No, I do. If I don't, I'll never get the courage to do it again. A new start, right?"

"Right," Steve said, giving her a comforting smile. "And whatever happens in result, I'll be here."

"I know you will," Bethany answered lovingly as she was called up to the podium.

Standing in front of all the reporters, she almost lost her nerve. But like she told Steve, it was now or never. She spent too many years in the shadows. "Good afternoon," she began with. "I've been sent to answer as many questions regarding the attack on New York that occurred a few weeks back, as many things still haven't been answered. The public does deserve to know a lot of what happened, but too much knowledge in the open could result in problems. Before I do this, I would like to introduce myself."

She took in a deep breath, looking to Steve momentarily for assurance. "My name is Bethany Elizabeth Stark. Not only was I a part of the battle, but also in the group known as the Avengers. I'm not a superhero. There's been a lot of speculation about me, about who I am and where I came from. At first, I didn't want to tell anyone. My life story isn't exactly the ideal, but I've come to realize that it's time to step away from who I was and into who I want to be. So here we go…

"Yes, my last name is Stark. And yes, I'm related to Tony Stark. But he's not my brother, or a cousin. He's my nephew." She took in a deep breath as the press began to shift, clearly intrigued. "I was born on August 13th, 1920."

The bulbs of cameras flashed, reporters jumping from their spot, all shouting questions. Bethany couldn't help but smile a little. It felt great to come clean. "My brother Howard and I were recruited to join the SSR and help with the super soldier program," she said over the reporters, them calming down as soon as they realized she had more to share. "During one of the stages of the serum, I subjected myself to it, and as result gained regenerative powers, which is how I stand before you now, looking no older than I did the day I took the serum."

"Can it heal other people?" One reporter asked.

"Is it possible to replicate it?" Another shouted.

"No," Bethany responded. "There's still a lot of questions in regard to the serum that runs inside me, but it doesn't possess the capabilities to heal anyone but myself. And just like the successful super soldier serum, no one has been able to replicate. At least, to my knowledge."

"Why keep this from us?" A blond reporter questioned, clearly trying to turn everything against her.

"Because people like me, people who are different, are exposed. But now, I have a group of freaks that I can relate to, and if they're okay with being known, than so am I."

"Are you referring to the Avengers?" One guy asked, a chuckle in his tone.

"Unfortunately, yes," Bethany said, earning her a chuckle from the room. "I'm not a member of the team by selection. I was merely there because everyone in that group is close to me. My nephew, my friends, my… well, my boyfriend."

Another round of people jumping up asking questions. Bethany shook her head amused, taking in the selection of questions. "For someone like me, it's hard to find someone with similar life experiences. Captain Rogers and I have known each other for years. In fact, I was present during his transformation. We were together briefly during 1944, but spilt due to… differences. But years of maturing on my behalf, and we're on the same page again. The reason why I'm telling you this is because I'm asking for our privacy. We've been through a lot, together and apart, and while we know that we can't ignore our past, we can't let other people dictate our future. Now, this is all I have to say on my personal life. I'm ready to answer any questions about the attack on New York."

**A/N: So Careless Whisper is by George Michael, but if you want to treat yourself to a 1930's rendition, I would suggest Post Modern Jukebox. I listen to all their music when I write, since it puts me in the right frame of mind. It's today's hits in retro styles- what's cooler than that?
I'm also going to see Cap 2 again today and since I'm basically done school, it'll inspire me to right more.

I know a lot of you are excited to read about what happens during Winter Soldier with Bethany, but I feel that if I cover that too soon, then I won't know what to write while we wait for Age of Ultron.

Kadienewberg: I've allowed myself to think of Steve and Bethany as parents once or twice, and Bethany is very much like the mom from The Incredibles. She won't be putting up with nuthin'.

Layla347: I'm really excited to start writing that, but I'm gonna wait just a little bit longer. I will be hinting at it a lot though.

FeliciaFelicis: No problem at all! You can only study so much for English, and then for this update, Canadian History (literally the majority of this class was just WWII. I didn't even have to do the readings.)