Hi everyone! I'm so glad to see you all here, I'm excited to get started! This is my second story for my Marvel fanfics "Guardian Angels." This is a sequel to "Guardian Angels: Hope," so I suggest you read that first so that way you won't be too confused as to what goes on in this second installment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This story, as well as the following one after, will basically be fillers. It will cover events/times in Evie's life, both important and non-important, until we get to the events of the MCU movies. I will do my absolute best to make sure that this will still be a fun, entertaining and satisfying story for you guys to read, but if you don't like fillers and want to wait until we get to the MCU events, you will end up waiting for a long while because those events while start in the very, VERY end of my third story, and into the fourth. I wanted to make sure you guys were aware because I know some people like to read different things.

Anyway, if you choose to read this, I really do hope you like it! Please leave a review to let me know what you think of this first chpter, and I will see you guys at the bottom! Enjoy!

Chapter One: Reunions

EviePOV

May 31st, 1950

Long Island, New York

Never in her life had Evie been so nervous about something as trivial and simple as knocking on a door. She must have looked simply ridiculous just standing there with a small travel bag in hand, in front of a lavish front door that felt like it took her forever to reach just from the walk up the long driveway that led to the house which seemed more like a mini mansion in Evie's opinion. But then again, she shouldn't really be surprised, given who it belongs to. She took a deep breath as she prepped herself once again to knock on the door, hopefully with enough courage to actually touch it this time. She berated herself for feeling so anxious, but then again she really couldn't help it. It's been so very long, and she knew that she hasn't done that great of a job keeping in contact. There could very well be a chance that he might be angry enough to not want to see her, and Evie wasn't sure what she would do if that were to happen. So much has happened and changed in the last few years, what if he changed as well? When she arrived back in the states she could see advertisements and billboards almost everywhere about his ever-growing success, and it only made her decision for him to be the first person she sees when coming back home all the more easier. For a minute she closed her eyes and prepped herself before raising her hand and finally giving four loud, sharp knocks on the door.

At first, she was worried that maybe nobody was home after she received no response when a couple minutes had gone by. She knew it might not have been the best time to come calling, but it wasn't horribly late either. Just as she started thinking she should probably knock again, there was the sound of the lock being undone from the other side and Evie was greeted with the sight of a tall man, who didn't look that much older than herself, standing in the doorway, wearing a formal dark gray suit complete with a red tie and black shoes. His dirty blonde hair was styled back away from his forehead, and he had gentle gray eyes that were currently staring at her in polite and well-mannered curiosity.

"Good evening, Miss," he greeted her with a British accent. "May I help you?"

"Good evening," Evie replied. "I was wondering if Mr. Stark was home?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark is currently attending a business dinner and will not be returning until later tonight," the man informed her.

"Oh, all right," Evie said slowly. "Would it be okay if I come to see him tomorrow?"

"Mr. Stark has a fairly tight schedule as of tomorrow. It would be best to set up an appointment," the man answered, but not unkindly.

"All right," Evie said, nodding her head to show that she understood even though she couldn't help but feel sad. "Thank you for your help, sir."

Dejected, Evie turned around and walked back down the steps, trying to think of where she could possibly spend the night and wondering if there were any sort of motels close by.

"Do you need me to phone a cabbie for you, Miss?" the man called after her.

"No thank you, I will be all right," Evie replied. "Could you please just let Mr. Stark know that Evie dropped by?"

"Evie?" the man repeated, his eyes widening slightly as realization came over his face. "Evangeline Erskine?"

"Um...yes?" Evie said warily, not quite sure as to why or how this man seemed to know her name.

"Good gracious," the man said as he hurried out of the door to go stand by her side. "Please forgive me, Miss, I did not realize who you were. You are more than welcome to stay here until Mr. Stark returns."

"What?"

"Mr. Stark has given clear instructions that his door is to always be open should a Miss Evangeline Erskine were ever to come home," the man explained. "I can show you to the guestroom."

His words caused a warm feeling in Evie's chest as well as a sense of hope.

"I wouldn't want to impose on him," she murmured softly.

"Nonsense, Miss Erskine. A respectable gentleman would never allow a young lady to venture off alone at night in any case," the man said. "Please, allow me to take your bag."

Despite Evie stating that she would be fine carrying her bag, the man insisted and in the end she gave in, allowing him to gently take her minimal luggage from her and guided her into the house. From the very moment she stepped inside, Evie was taken aback by just how gorgeous everything was, from the soft carpet to the glistening furniture that clearly was the best that money could buy, while still giving the place a more homey feeling. The loveseat and armchairs were a dark red color, with dark cherry wood bookcases and a fireplace set into the far wall. There was a parlor over towards the left side which held a lovely grand piano and directly in front of her was a wide staircase that led up to the upper floors, with marble railing. There were exquisite artwork hanging on the walls, and Evie smiled a bit. The man-who she guessed by now must be Howard's butler-led her upstairs and down a long hallway to the room situated at the end on the right hand side, opening the door and gesturing for her to enter. For a guest bedroom, this really seemed to be like a mini suit from the Plaza Hotel, including a queen sized bed with emerald green sheets and covers, as well as a lovely wooden vanity with gold colored accents, and a chaise over by the bay window. Evie couldn't help but gap a little at the room in amazement, especially considering she has been sleeping in what most would consider an upgraded hut for the past three years.

"Is this room suitable for you?" the butler asked as he placed her bag at the foot of her bed.

"Oh yes, thank you," Evie replied. "It's very lovely."

"I shall leave you to get settled in. Mr. Stark has said that you are welcome to anything in the house, if you are hungry we have a fully stocked refrigerator, the kitchen is downstairs and straight through the parlor. The bathroom is located along this hallway, the second door on the left. Mr. Stark is expected to return in approximately two hours, but if you need any assistance, I shall be downstairs. Otherwise, my quarters are in the very first room in this hallway. You need only ask."

"Thank you so much for all your help, Mr..."

"Edwin Jarvis, at your service, Miss Erskine."

"Thank you, Mr. Jarvis."

Jarvis nodded before he left the room to give Evie some privacy, closing the door behind him. She stared around at her surroundings for a minute before taking a seat on the edge of her bed, sighing as she slowly kicked off her shoes and undid the small knot at the back of her head, letting her hair fall out to brush her shoulders in loose waves. Now that she had finally arrived, she could feel the last thirteen hours begin to catch up with her and she laid back onto the mattress, curling up a little as she allowed her body to rest for the first time since leaving Kamar Taj. She knew she should have taken Wu's advice and just let him transport her home instantly, but she wanted to make the trip herself, seeing as she needed to make a stop in Switzerland first anyway. Now she could feel the exhaustion creeping up on her, but she needed to keep it at bay. She's come so far already and she was anxious to see Howard again after so many years, she didn't want to delay it by going to sleep just yet. The fact that he ordered his butler to keep an eye out for her gave her more hope than she had felt in a long time, and she took it as a good sign that maybe he wouldn't be as upset with her as she first imagined. Yawning, she grabbed one of the nearby pillows and placed her head upon it. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she just rested her eyes for a couple minutes while she waited for Howard to get back.

It seemed as though she had only closed her eyes for mere minutes before Evie suddenly found herself waking up to bright sunlight streaming through the curtains and into the room, lighting everything up brilliantly. Her mind felt very groggy and her muscles heavy as she adjusted herself on the bed, briefly confused as to why there was so much light at this time of the day when it had only been dark moments before. Suddenly realizing she had fallen asleep, Evie groaned quietly to herself, huffing out a breath. In the back of her mind she wondered in amusement just how much Howard may have had to hold himself back from barging into the room and waking her up last night. With that in mind, Evie opened up her eyes all the way and smiled, feeling eager to get up and find her best friend. After taking a nice long stretch, she stood up from the bed and slipped back into her shoes before grabbing a brush from her bag to run through her hair quickly. Once she deemed herself decent, she left the guest room and then proceeded down the hall to make her way down the stairs. When she reached the ground floor, her smile grew even wider as she heard a very familiar voice speaking from the living room and she instantly steered towards it. Rounding the bend leading into the room, she felt a leap of happiness at the sight of Howard Stark in all his glory ranting on the phone line, speaking into the receiver while Jarvis was almost right behind him, holding the rest of the phone to make sure the call wasn't disconnected as Howard was currently pacing, not having noticed Evie's presence yet and the phone cord wrapped tightly around his waist.

"Yes Janet, just cancel it all...yes, even my one o'clock appointment...just tell them some urgent business has come up, see if he would be willing to reschedule for later this week...no, I-no, don't know how long, tell them if they have an issue to call me directly...thank you, you too..."

With a heavy sigh, Howard placed the receiver back on the line, placing his hands on his hips before grinning at Jarvis.

"Well, that takes care of that. Can I wake her up now?" he asked.

"Sir, I may suggest giving Miss Erskine a little more time, since more than likely she needs to catch up on her rest and get used to the time difference. And also, it is still only half-past six and the restaurant doesn't open until seven o'clock."

"Hmm, that does put a damper on things, doesn't it?" Howard mused, rubbing his chin in thought. "Maybe I can call to make arrangements for an early private setting?"

"I definitely wouldn't put it past you," Evie commented with a smirk, making her presence known.

"Mon Cherie!" Howard exclaimed, his face lighting up as he tried to walk over towards her, being held back by the cord still wrapped around his waist. "Damn! Jarvis, a little help please?"

After Jarvis helped Howard untangle himself, the millionaire rushed over and wasted no time in pulling Evie into a tight embrace, even going so far as to lift her off her feet. Evie giggled happily as she returned his hug just as fiercely, her own smile threatening to split her face in two. God, she has missed him so much! Once Howard set her on her feet again, he pulled back a little to look her over.

"Just as beautiful as the last time I saw you," he praised. "And you cut your hair?"

"It started to become bothersome after a while," Evie explained, tucking a strand behind her ear. "Oh Howard, I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, you have no idea how glad I am that you're finally home," Howard said. "When Jarvis told me I thought he was playing a joke."

"I do not joke, Mr. Stark," Jarvis piped up.

"I know, I'm still working on loosening you up some," Howard replied before he took on a more serious tone. "How are you, Evie? You doing all right?"

"I am," Evie confirmed, giving him a genuine look. "It took a long while, but I really am. I'm just happy to be back."

"Same goes for me, and I know Peggy will be ecstatic," Howard said. "Oh, guess what? Peggy and Will are actually tying the knot next month!"

"Really?" Evie gasped, her eyes widening.

"You bet, looks like you got back just in time. Speaking of which, Jarvis?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Be a pal and call Agent Carter? Tell her I'm on my way over with a special present, then bring the car around front, please," Howard asked and then turned back to Evie. "Do you have a change of clothes?"

"Probably not suited to whatever restaurant I know you're going to end up dragging me to," Evie answered with a light laugh.

"We'll take care of that on the way," Howard said, a resolved look on his face. "Since you are going to be my guest for the unforeseeable future, I need to make sure you are properly fed, clothed, and cleaned."

"I'm not a dog, Howard. And you don't have to-"

"Shush, less talking, more walking, we don't want to keep Peggy waiting," Howard cut in as he ushered Evie out of the living room. "Last time I did that I almost ended up at the bottom of the Hudson."

"Am I correct in assuming this is meant to be a surprise gift, sir?" Jarvis asked from over by the phone.

"Just tell her that the dove's finally come home."

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The reunion between Evie and Peggy was quite the emotional one, to say the least. Almost the very second the two women set their eyes on each other, the next few minutes were filled with hugs and teary eyes, and Evie could feel her heart swelling. Peggy wasted no time in telling her-well, more like ordering-that she was never to go away for so long again with such minimal contact, and Evie felt a little guilty at that. During her time away and especially after she started training with the Ancient One, she has restricted her contact with Howard and Peggy to really just postcards from different places, letting them know she was all right and a brief summary of her current activities. She never went into too much detail and after meeting the Sorceress Supreme along with her other students, Evie didn't want to risk putting information like that in the post. Even though the war had officially ended years ago, Evie wouldn't be surprised if the mail was still being strictly observed, especially if it's from out of the country. But now all of that was behind them, and hopefully this was the chance to start anew and rekindle her relationship with her two best friends. They all went out to a very nice restaurant at Howard's suggestion, driven by Mr. Jarvis, who dropped them off at the front doors and told Howard he would be ready to pick them up when they were done. Once they were seated and had ordered their food, Evie was determined to catch up on everything she had missed out on in the past three years.

"So, you and Will are getting married?" Evie asked with a sly grin. "How does it feel to be the future Mrs. Prescott?"

"It feels a bit nerve-wracking, to be perfectly honest," Peggy admitted. "Sometimes I never believed I would have the chance to actually settle down and start a family."

"You and me both, I thought you would turn into an old SSR spinster," Howard agreed before wincing as Evie stepped on his toe under the table.

"Tact, Howard," she said sternly.

"Geez, I forgot how unfair it is having both of you here to team up against me," Howard muttered.

"So where are you having the wedding?" Evie asked.

"At Will's family home, in Pennsylvania," Peggy replied with a smile. "My mother and Father are actually due to arrive here in a couple weeks, along with a few other close family members. Unfortunately they can't afford to fly everyone out here, but I'm happy that my parents will be able to be there, at least. And now you will get to be there as well! I'm just sorry that you won't get a be a part of the bridal party, I love Will's sister, but if it were up to me you would be my maid of honor."

"I know Peggy, and I would have taken up the offer in a heartbeat, but I came back just a little too late for that," Evie said reassuringly.

"At least you're here now, and there's so much for us to catch up on," Howard added. "What were your plans for after you came back?"

"I'm not really sure," Evie admitted with a shrug. "My main goal over the past few years was to finally gain complete control over my powers, and hopefully find some peace along the way."

"Have you?" Peggy asked. "Found peace, I mean?"

Evie was quiet for a brief moment before she answered, taking in a breath and relaxing more into her chair, clasping her hands in front of her on the table.

"For the most part, yes," she responded slowly. "There's a part of me that I don't think will ever truly move on from everything, but I have found ways to cope with it. I don't think that I will ever be able to forget Steve or how much I loved him, but I know that he wouldn't want me wallowing for the rest of my life. For now, I'm just taking it one day at a time, although I don't know exactly where to go from here."

"Well, you'll always have a place with either of us, you know that," Howard reminded her. "But I call dibbs on her first, Peg."

All this comment earned was a light giggle from Evie and a roll of the eyes from Peggy.

"But seriously Evie, you can stay as long as you need to, and you still have your position as my assistant as well so there's no need to worry about finding work," Howard continued.

"Or you can come back to the SSR," Peggy suggested. "I know the Howling Commandos will be thrilled to see you again."

"Thanks, I really do appreciate this, I just need to think about it for a little while," Evie said. "And I would love to see the boys as soon as possible."

"They're on a mission right now, but I'll make sure to let you know once they've come back," Peggy told her. just as their waiter returned with their meal and the three friends dug in to some delicious food. They all sat back and enjoyed their breakfast, chatting together for a while longer and for Evie, it felt just like old times. At one point Howard mentioned the fact that he actually had a meeting with Phillips at the end of the week at the new headquarters of a new agency that he had only recently founded last year along with Peggy and Colonel Phillips, and he asked Evie if she wanted to go.

"What is this agency?" Evie asked him curiously.

"It's a kind of branch off from the SSR, only I made it bigger and much better," Howard replied smugly as he took a sip of his mimosa. "It's called the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."

"That is certainly a mouthful," Evie stated with an amused grin. "Why do I have a feeling you're the one who came up with that complicated title?"

"It was a group effort, but yes, I provided the final result," Howard confirmed.

"Always so modest, Stark," Peggy said.

"Thank you, Agent Carter. But I thought it would be fitting for...well, you know..."

"It's an acronym," Peggy assisted softly. "It spells out 'SHIELD.' I guess you could say that this is our way of honoring Steve."

"Oh," Evie muttered, understanding. The hidden meaning and dedication behind it made her heart go out to them, and it only made her love for her best friends grow to tremendous heights. She thanked them quietly, and after only debating with herself only for a few seconds, she agreed to go along with Howard when he would meet up with Colonel Phillips, wanting to see just how far long the agency has come along during the time she's been away. Hopefully, the Howling Commandos will be back from their mission by that time and she will have a chance to see her brothers in arms again. The Next half hour passed by much faster than any of them wanted to admit and once Howard flagged down the waiter so he could take care of the check, they all left the restaurant together and when Evie ran a hand through her hair, she paused when she realized she needed to wash it properly. Once she mentioned this, Peggy offered to take her to go shopping for some essentials she would need while Howard opted to wait in the car with Jarvis, stating that was women's territory that he had no business being in. That managed to get a laugh from Evie, and in that moment she had never felt happier to be home.

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...

The warm rays of the sun shone brightly overhead in a nearly cloudless, baby blue sky, with a gentle breeze to go along with it as the finishing touch. The grass felt soft beneath her hands as Evie trailed her fingers along the tall blades, reaching up to trace the tiny petals of the wildflowers that surrounded her. She wasn't quite sure where she was, but this place was so utterly beautiful she couldn't find it in herself to care. There was open, grassy fields for miles with several trees popping up here and there, and the lovely flowers that ran throughout the valley gave it such a wonderful burst of color. Evie was seated in the grass, a smile on her face as she leaned her back against a warm body, arms loosely encircling her waist and her shoulders up against a strong chest. She was humming a quiet tune to herself as she traced over one of the hands with her thumb and she smiled as she felt a soft kiss at the back of her head. After a few more minutes she stopped humming and she grasped the arms that were around her, snuggling herself further back into the chest.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" a gentle, deep voice asked her.

"I miss you," she whispered, closing her eyes as an all too familiar sadness gripped her heart painfully. "I wish you were here."

"I am here, and I always will be."

Evie felt one of the hands move from around her waist and cup her cheek, turning her head so she was looking into a pair of beautiful blue eyes. Steve smiled tenderly at her as he leaned down to kiss her lips, running his fingertips through her hair and holding her close to him. When they broke apart, Evie could feel a single tear fall down her face and Steve wiped it away with his thumb.

"No matter what happens, I will always find a way back to you," he said. "Always."

Despite the logical part of her telling her otherwise, Evie couldn't hep but believe his words, which were spoken with such confidence and sincerity, and she adjusted herself so that she could place her head over his heart, seeking comfort in the steady, thumping rhythm.

"I love you, Steve," she said, clutching his shirt tighter in her hands. "Stay with me."

"Always," he repeated softly. "Always..."

...

Evie slowly awoke from her dream, trying to latch onto it for as long as possible before Steve's face was diminished, vanishing into a colorless mist before the sight of her floral blanket took its place, filling her vision with carefully woven purple tulips. Sighing to herself, Evie blinked her eyes a few times before she rolled over onto her back, gave a nice long stretch and pushed the covers away from her face. She couldn't be sure exactly what time it was, but she had a feeling it was still early in the morning, considering the position of the sun outside of her bedroom window. Sitting up on the bed, Evie ran a hand through her hair before looking over at the bedside table, where there was a framed picture of Steve while he was training at Camp Lehigh, the same one she had found when going through his files from the SSR after the Valkyrie crashed. There was barely anything that Evie had left to remember him by, therefore she couldn't find it in herself to part with the photograph, taking it with her almost everywhere she traveled to. It was a part of the two material items she was permitted to keep with her in her room while she was training in Kamar Taj. That, along with her music box that was given to her many years ago by her parents. Everything else had been stowed away until they were returned to her by the Ancient One the day she left to go back home to the U.S. Despite her finally achieving some form of peace after so many years of feeling nothing but painful grief, Evie still found herself missing Steve so much, and the occasional dreams she had of him were enough to make her reminisce about the short years they had together and the precious moments that were shared between them. Time had healed nearly all of her wounds, but she was still human, after all.

Not wanting to slip into her sad memories, Evie got up from her bed and pulled on her night robe, tying the silk belt around her waist and sliding her feet into her slippers before she left the room to head downstairs into the kitchen. Thoughts of breakfast entered her mind as she walked down the stairs, wondering if Howard would mind very much if she were to cook a meal for everyone. She hasn't cooked in what seemed like forever and she was itching to make a full spread like she used to do. When she finally entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see that she was not the only early bird awake at this time. Jarvis was sitting at the kitchen counter, with a mug of coffee in his hand and a newspaper in the other, already dressed in his suit.

"Good morning, Miss Erskine," he greeted as he watched her enter. "How are you today?"

"I'm very well, thank you Mr. Jarvis," Evie said as she came closer. "I thought today was your day off?"

"It is, although I do tend to stick around for a little while in the mornings to make sure that Mr. Stark is up at a reasonable hour," he explained as he started to fold up the paper. "He was up late working last night, and he was insistent upon making sure not to be late for the board meeting this afternoon."

"Well, if you would like I can make sure that he wakes up in time so you can head on home," Evie offered as she went over to begin skimming through the cabinets so she could see what she had to work with. "But if you don't mind waiting just a little while, I'm going to be making breakfast if you would like to stay."

"That's very kind of you Miss Erskine, but once Mr. Stark is awake, I really must be getting back home to my wife," Jarvis politely declined.

"Oh, you're married?" Evie asked with a smile as she finally located the bowls and other tools she would need, carefully gathering them all in her arms. "How long?"

"It will be eight years this coming August," he answered, a smile of his own coming to his face and his expression becoming more tender.

"That's wonderful to hear, Mr. Jarvis," Evie said as she brought the bowls, whisk, spoons, and rolling pin over to the counter to spread them all out before heading over to search for the eggs and flour. "The world could use some more love in it, especially after what so many had been through during the war. At times when I was feeling at my worst, or when the treats of war became more prominent, my papa used to cheer me up by saying that the opposite of the surrounding darkness isn't light, but love. Thinking of the love I shared with my family always helped, even if just a little."

"Your father sounds like a smart man," Jarvis stated.

"He was," Evie confirmed, her smile becoming more reminiscent before she brought over her ingredients and got to work. "So, how long have you been working for Howard, Mr. Jarvis?"

Over the next hour, Evie and Jarvis made pleasant conversation with one another as she bustled about inside the kitchen, searching and grabbing more items from the cabinets as well as the fridge, quickly cluttering the counter space. It didn't take very long for her hands and forearms to get covered in flour as she made her homemade biscuits, popping them inside the oven and then tossing some bacon in the frying pan. The sizzling sounds of oil and the delicious aroma of bacon and potatoes were wafting through the kitchen in no time at all. Evie kept up her conversation with Jarvis quite easily as she moved, her hands seeming to wander on their own accord, adding spices when needed and flipping over the bacon while simultaneously cracking eggs into another pan. While she cooked, she learned that Jarvis had come to the united States with his wife back in 1941, before they were married, and Howard had actually been the one to arrange it all, seeing as Mrs. Jarvis was Jewish and therefore wanted by the Gestapo. In return for helping to save his beloved's life and standing up for him when Jarvis had been dishonorably charged for forging his wife's immigration papers, Jarvis has been working for Howard ever since. Evie could tell that even though Jarvis was obviously a very proper, dignified man, the loyalty and fondness he had for Howard was clear.

"I hope this doesn't come off as too bold, Miss Erskine, but may I ask how you and Mr. Stark know each other?" Jarvis asked in genuine curiosity.

"I met Howard when I came to America myself, years ago," Evie replied as she pulled the biscuits out of the oven. "He just sort of latched onto me at some point and I couldn't get rid of him after that."

"I'm not sure whether to be flattered or insulted by that comment, Evie," Howard's voice suddenly joined in, and Evie looked over to see the man yawning behind his hand as he shuffled into the room in his slippers and robe. his hair was an absolute mess and Evie even detected some stubble beginning to make its appearance. However, his eyes lit up at the sight of the spread Evie was arranging.

"I thought I smelled something delicious cooking down here," he said as he slid into a chair next to Jarvis. "What's on the menu today?"

"I made my special eggs with green sauce, bacon, some sausages with potatoes, biscuits and as a special treat, I fixed up some hazelnut waffles with blackberry sauce."

"Jarvis, I think we just died and entered the sweetest part of Heaven," Howard proclaimed, his eyes scanning over every single dish with a ravenous look in his eyes, licking his lips. "You have to try some of these waffles, trust me, they're to die for."

"I would love to sir, but I must get going," Jarvis replied, although Evie didn't miss the way his eyes lingered over all of the food, and she thought she heard a small grumble from the man's stomach. Thinking fast, she rummaged around for some sort of container and when she finally found it, she placed a couple of biscuits, sausages, and a single waffle inside, making sure it was closed tight before she offered it to Jarvis.

"For you and your wife," she said.

"Thank you very much, Miss Erskine," Jarvis said to her with a grateful smile. After exchanging goodbyes to Howard, Jarvis left the kitchen and Howard smirked as he went to fix himself a plate as well as some coffee.

"Don't be surprised if him and Ana suddenly want to move in," he stated as he poured himself a mug of the steaming liquid. "I love her, but the poor woman makes burning toast look like an art."

Evie just shook her head and chuckled at him as she set up her own plate. Within the next few minutes they were both eating their breakfast together, with Howard moaning with nearly every bite he took.

"So good," he said around a mouthful of sausage and eggs. "You have no idea how much I missed this!"

"Chew with your mouth closed, Stark," Evie chided lightly, although she was happy that Howard seemed to be enjoying his food. "Would you mind if I take a look at the newspaper?"

"Sure, but what for?" he asked as he handed it over to her.

"Looking for available apartments for rent," Evie replied as she took a bite of the flavorful waffles.

"What?" Howard said in surprise, pausing with his fork halfway to his mouth. "An apartment? I thought you were going to stay here?"

"Howard, I really do appreciate the fact that you're willing to let me stay here with you, but it wouldn't be appropriate," Evie explained as she opened up the paper. "What will the public say when they find out that Howard Stark has a woman staying with him when they're not married or even dating?"

"They would find something else about me to smear in the papers, you know the media is just a bunch of vultures."

"Be that as it may, I don't want to give any reporter or journalist any fuel to the fire," Evie stated. "Besides, I don't want to become a-what is it you call it-a moocher?"

"I don't see you as a moocher, Evie, you know that," Howard said, furrowing his eyebrows.

"I understand that Howard, and knowing you are always in my corner means more to me than you realize. But this is also about what I need, and I want to be able to make it out there in the world on my own, without having to rely on my billionaire best friend for money."

"But that's the whole reason why you have a billionaire best friend, though!"

"Howard."

Howard frowned at Evie for a couple minutes before he sighed, shoving another piece iof waffle into his mouth and he pointed his fork at her in a would-be threatening gesture.

"I don't like this," he proclaimed. "Not at all. But I am willing to agree on two conditions. One: you come back to work as my assistant at Stark Industries and you accept a raise. That way you don't have to worry about finding a good paying job or finding a way to support yourself. God knows with the war being long over, women are still being rejected in the work force."

"I didn't realize you thought so highly of women, Howard," Evie teased with a small smirk.

"Being around you and Peggy so much has certainly been an eye-opener for sure. Besides, I've always held lovely women in very high regard," Howard said with a sly, flirtatious grin.

"You are terrible, you now that?"

"But you love me anyway."

"Unfortunately. What is your second condition?"

"I bought a building here in Long Island that I'm currently renovating to be turned into apartments," Howard told her. "A side-project, if you will. Once it's all done, I can guarantee you a place."

"Howard, you don't-"

"Yes I do. If anything, do it for my sanity, because if i don't have easy access to your cooking within a five mile radius I might go insane," he said. "Besides, I would feel better knowing you were close by, and that you're safe."

Hearing this coming from the smooth, fast-talking, and slightly arrogant Howard Stark was enough to cause a warmth in Evie's chest and she smiled at him softly.

"Thank you, Howard," she said. "I accept your conditions."

"Good, because Jarvis hinted that kidnapping may not have been the best route to go by," Howard admitted before shoving the last of his food into his mouth and checking his watch. "We better get going soon, we need to be at headquarters by late morning."

"What?" Evie asked in confusion. "We're going to SHIELD again?"

"You bet, so make sure to hurry and get dressed once you're done," Howard instructed as he chugged the rest of his coffee down and hurriedly placed his dishes in the sink. "I promised to bring you over before they got back."

"What are you talking about? Before who got back?"

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CAMP LEHIGH U.S ARMY BASE

"BIRTHPLACE OF CAPTAIN AMERICA"

Evie glanced at the sign that was propped up on the fence in clear view for everyone to see as she and Howard made their way through the first barrier into the base, where she could see a flutter of activity. Training officers, captains, privates, and colonels were making their way around on some errand or another, with heavy tanks and vehicles strung about. The day was hot and the kicked-up dirt from the ground beneath them hung about in the air in a thin cloud. This was the second time since she came back that Evie had visited the base, but the sight still never ceased to amaze her. It had grown and expanded from what it used to be back when she and Peggy were supervising possible candidates for Project REBIRTH, and transformed into possibly one of the most popular and well disciplined training camps and bases in the state.

A lot can certainly change in just seven years, she thought to herself. Howard drove the car through the base until they came upon a smaller storage unit that was a bit away from the main buildings, and Evie smiled to herself. Colonel Phillips may be many things, but he certainly wasn't dim. The outward appearance was a spectacular facade compared to what was inside and Evie was glad that she was actually prepared for it this time, since her expression had made Howard bend over laughing the first time he brought her around. Now she knew what to expect as she and Howard entered the elevator shaft and took it straight down to the bottom floor, which opened up to reveal the secret home base of SHIELD. Men and women were scurrying about left and right, and there were also some soldiers marching about as well. It was a flurry of movement and a kaleidoscope of voices, and chatter. The two of them walked through the main lobby area, where there was a wall that held pictures of Howard, Phillips, and Peggy, the founders of the agency. Howard led the way, taking Evie through a maze of hallways and past many offices until they came to the one he had apparently been looking for. He only knocked once before allowing himself inside, and Evie barely had a chance to read Colonel Phillips' name on the door before she heard a familiar voice.

"I'll be damned! Evie?!"

"Dum Dum?" Evie said, her face immediately lighting up with a beaming smile as she caught sight of a large, muscular man with his signature bowler hat and neatly trimmed mustache. Dugan let out a bark of laughter before he walked over to scoop Evie up in a tight hug, even going to far to lift her off of her feet. Evie returned the gesture, beyond happy to see her fellow Commando once again after so long.

"I can't believe it," Dugan said as he set Evie back down on her feet. "How are you, darlin'? When did you get back?"

"Just a few days ago," Evie replied. "I'm doing well, thank you. How are you?"

"Feeling a lot better now that you're here," Dugan answered with a grin.

"As touching as this reunion is, you still have forms to sign here, Dugan," Phillips spoke up from behind his desk, raising an eyebrow at them.

"Yes, sir," Dugan said, quickly pulling over a couple sheets of paper towards him so he could hurry up and sign them.

"Just so you know Erskine, unless you plan on rejoining, SHIELD is not a playground you can drop in on whenever you'd like," Phillips told Evie with his usual frown.

"But sir, if I don't come by every now and then, won't you miss me?" Evie asked with a teasing tone, her smile much too innocent.

"Not at all," Phillips deadpanned. "And don't get smart with me."

"Yes sir," Evie responded with a barely suppressed giggle just as Dum Dum finished off giving his signature for the documents.

"Thank you, Dugan, that will be all," Phillips said once Dum Dum handed over the papers. "And take Erskine with you. She's been here twice this week and I'm starting to miss the silence already."

"Yes, sir," Dugan said before looking over at Evie. "What do you say, darlin'? The rest of the boys are down by the shooting range, they'd love to see you."

"Absolutely," Evie agreed with a nod, her excitement at seeing her old friends swelling up inside of her. "Do you mind, Howard?"

"Of course not. Go and have fun, kiddos," Howard chuckled. "I need to talk with Ches for a minute anyway."

"Stark, so help me..." Phillips warned, unimpressed.

Evie giggled again before she followed Dugan out of the office, eager to see the rest of the boys and feeling much lighter than she had been in a long while.

HowardPOV

Howard watched Evie leave the room with a smile on his face, feeling so glad to see her happy again. Once the door was shut behind her, he gave a small sigh, his smile fading just a little as he turned back to Phillips, taking a seat across from him. The old colonel sighed as well, taking off his reading glasses and setting them off to the side before he folded his hands in front of him. Sometimes it was hard to imagine that in just a few short years, Phillips' gray hair has become more profound and the wrinkles in his face has deepened, making him seem much older. But then again, Howard wasn't too surprised, given the stress that comes along with this line of work. Phillips fixed Howard with a stare and in the back of his mind, the engineer had a feeling of what Phillips was going to say before he opened his mouth.

"Does she know that Zola's working for us now?" Phillips asked, always straight to the point.

"No," Howard admitted, seeing no point in beating around the bush.

"Are you planning on telling her anytime soon?"

"Yes, I am, I'm just...working up to it."

"Well you better 'work up to it' sooner rather than later," Phillips said. "You're lucky that he's off sight for the next two weeks."

"Why do you think I brought her over today?" Howard chortled weakly without any real humor in it.

"This isn't a joking matter, Stark," Phillips reprimanded. "If she finds out that we have a former member of HYDRA working here-who happens to be the one who's extraction mission cost the life of Sergeant Barnes-from anyone else other than you or Carter, she won't take that very well."

"I know, I know," Howard muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. "I need to find the right way to tell her. I don't even want Zola within fifty feet of her anyway, I don't like the idea of him being in the same vicinity as her."

"You thinking he may slip back into old habits?" Phillips inquired.

"The idea makes me feel queasy," Howard said. "Zola is a great asset to us, he's helped us come farther than any other doctor we've recruited, but-I don't know-I'd rather them both to be oblivious to each other."

"That'll do nothing but stir up one hell of a storm," Phillips commented as he leaned back in his chair. "If you go down that road, then you better be ready for when it hits."

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Please leave a review, tell me what you think! I will have the second chapter posted as soon as I can!