A/N: If you don't like the character's, plot or pairings, then don't read.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Captain America, only my character/s

WORD COUNT: 3, 924

Chapter 8:

Thanks for the Memories

"Miss. Brandt, how far are you willing to go to keep your family safe?" Charles asked as they sat down in his office. Steve stood behind Seph while both Brandt's sat in the leather chairs opposite Charles and Bobby who took flank behind the Omega level telepath.

"I'd do anything." Seph answered without hesitation, her eyes determined as she looked directly into Charles' gray eyes.

He sighed, looking at all the faces in his office before he nodded, "now, what I am going to propose, will shock you and you will want to turn back and forget you ever came here as it still is quite a raw subject for you and I will not push this upon you if you don't want feel like pursuing, but this is the only offer I will lay on the table."

"Nothing is going to stop me from protecting Joey. I swore to Barbara that I'd protect him with my dying breath and if it comes to that, so be it. I don't think your proposal will scare me off that." Seph's voice was clear, with conviction as her back straightened. Joey looked up at his aunt and for a split second, he saw the old Persephone. His fearless aunt that would do anything to protect her family, even if it meant she'd get into a fist fight. This is who he looked up to. She had never left.

"Does visiting your family home change your mind?" Charles asked and Seph's expression froze, her entire body tensed as she remembered her home, where she and Barbara had some of their best memories in that house. She had watched Joey grow up in that house, had played with him for hours on end, had driven her parents mad under their roof as any daughter with a rebellious streak in her would.

That house was sacred to her.

Damaged and broken now, she would taint the image of perfection from then.

"That's why you're working two jobs is it not? To pay the mortgage?" Joey looked at his aunt who was still ramrod straight. She was going through all this stress just to keep her family home that she couldn't even step a foot in, just to preserve the memories?

"I. . I can't go back there. . ." Seph whispered, tears threatening to flow as Steve rested a hand on her shoulder and she sighed, feeling an overwhelming calmness overtake her and Joey took her hand, and she felt it all over again, the hesitant love through his touch.

Charles sighed, "I will not force you, Miss. Brandt." Charles looked to the obviously suffering Persephone and the young, saddened Joseph who looked up at his aunt with haunted eyes, she was trapped in her own thoughts, "but it could potentially hold the key to you and your nephew's survival. Even Bobby's." He said, trying to get his point across.

"Okay," Steve piped up, stopping Charles. "That's enough. Persephone needs time to sort through her own thoughts."

"Of course." Charles agreed, his back hitting his chair as Seph turned to her nephew and he looked up at her. Joey was dying to go back to their family home, but he was old enough to know what whatever was going to happen, was going to be bad for Aunt Seph and she wouldn't want him to see her like that. He'd have enough time to see the house, now that he knows that she had kept paying the mortgage. It was under her name. He'd have time.

"I think you should go, Aunt Seph." Joey murmured, forcing himself to take her hand, throwing the memories of his mother in the back of his mind, this was about his aunt now.

"We'll leave you two to talk about it amongst yourselves." As all three men went to walk out, Joey spoke up.

"Wait! Captain America can stay." Joey called for Steve who stopped in the middle of the doorway, stunned. He turned back to look at them, shocked that the young boy wanted a virtual stranger to stay with them while they had a private conversation, but then Seph looked up, pleading silently with her eyes, before she too spoke:

"I'd like it if Captain America could stay too." She whispered brokenly, sniffling as tears threatened to fall from her overwhelming emotions and all Steve could do was nod as he slowly walked back into the room, nodding to the two men silently who continued to move down the hall and Steve closed the door and he leaned against the desk.

"If it helps you figure something out. . .I think you should do it." Joey picked up his train of thought, looking up at his aunt.

"But I don't want to leave you. I've done that enough." Seph answered, clutching his hand.

"You haven't ever left me, Aunt Seph. Not once. No matter how many times I wished you would over the past two years; you never did." Joey continued, sounding much older than his eleven years. "So, you need to go. Get all this sorted out and we can kick these bad guys in the butt, for thinking they could ever mess with the Brandt's." Seph chuckled at his determination and, forgetting all of the warnings over the past two years, she pulled him into a tight hug, lifting Joey over the chair and into her lap, cuddling him close. Steve grinned, remembering how his mother used to do that as well.

"Damn right." Seph chuckled, closing her eyes in affection as Joey wrapped his arms around her shoulders and tightened his hold, having missed her cuddles.

"So, you'll do it?" Joey asked, his voice muffled from her shoulder.

"Suppose I'll have to. To keep you safe, I'll do it." Seph affirmed and Steve smiled softly.

"Only if Captain America goes with you." Joey added, making Seph chuckle.

"You know, you can call him Steve, I don't think he minds. . .do you?" Seph asked, suddenly unsure as she looked up at the Running Man, who nodded, a crooked grin replacing the soft smile.

"You can call me Steve, buddy." America's New Hope placated the young boy.

"Well. . .only if you go with . . ." Joey looked to his left and right conspicuously, "Steve." He whispered, as if saying his name was going to get him in trouble.

"I promise." Seph smiled, looking at her nephew and his hand touched her cheek, as if reminiscing and he knew who he was seeing. Barbara.

His eyes glazed over and he pictured indigo blue eyes and darker hair, more of a warm brown. A slightly crooked mouth when she smiled and the indescribable love only a mother could have for their child. But the image faded and indigo was replaced with stunning hazel and brown hair dissolved into a chestnut red, the slightly crooked lips becoming center and he was once again staring at his aunt and anger overtook him. She left him again.

Seph's hands tightened around her nephew as she cradled him close, feeling the overwhelming anger he was transmitting through every single cell of his body. She had an idea of why he got so angry when he actually looked at her, but she never voiced the opinion. She'd probably just anger him even more, so she set him back and looked into his eyes. "But you need to promise me that you'll stay here with Uncle Bobby. Okay? You'll be safe here, just until this blows over."

"But what about you?" Joey asked, his expression defiant.

"They don't want you, Joey, they want me. But if they can't get to me, they'll try to get you to make me do something rash, and I won't allow that to happen, okay? So please, stay here. Stay safe with Uncle Bobby." Seph pleaded to Joseph who looked up at her, before nodding. She had avoided his question, Steve caught on.

She wasn't expecting to survive something like this.

"Okay."

(..)

After changing quickly at her apartment, and Steve scanning every inch of the apartment and standing guard at every possible entrance and exit, Seph was on the back of Steve's motorbike, wearing the appropriate headgear and pads, just in case they were stopped by the police and she really didn't need the extra hassle right now. Seph directed him, every single detail of the way resurfacing. She was shocked to realize that she never forgot the route.

She clutched at Steve's hand as they took the steps up the porch and stopped at the front door. With her other hand, she pulled the lone key from her jean pocket, her hand shaking as she reached for the keyhole to unlock the door.

Steve's large hand steadied Seph's. "Deep breaths, doll." Steve whispered in her ear, his arm wrapping around her waist gently to comfort her. Seph closed her eyes to center herself and took deep breaths. Her hand stopped shaking enough for the key to slide in and she slowly turned it, to hear the mechanisms inside click, unlocking. Seph exhaled deeply as she lifted her hand from the key and to the doorknob and she slowly turned, her other hand gripping at Steve's own and she cautiously opened the door.

The house was the same.

Both Steve and Seph took a step inside the home and smelt . . . roses. Seph's eyebrows furrowed and with her curiosity taking the forefront of her emotions, her fear and dread being pushed to the side as they walked straight through the small foyer and she took a sharp right, through the gap in the wall to see the living room, completely spotless. Devoid of dust and the clear plastic wrapping that she had put on all the furniture. It was like someone had taken it upon themselves to clean her house since she hadn't stepped foot in it for two years.

Everything was still in its place. She hadn't taken any of the photos from the walls or displays. She couldn't touch anything in the house that belonged to her parents and sister. But they were all free of the thousands of layers of dust that should be coating them.

Someone's obviously been doing maintenance while Seph was unaware and as far as she knew, only she had the keys.

"Why does it look so spotless?" Steve asked as she looked around.

"Someone's been cleaning in here. ." Seph noted, her fingertips running over the couch, the sensation triggering memories.

"Come on, Babs! The show's about to start!" 16-year-old Persephone Brandt ran to the TV, somersaulting over the armrest and landing perfectly on the cushion as a heavily pregnant Barbara waddled after her, followed by their loving parents.

"I'm comin', Seph, you know it's not exactly easy to walk now." Barbara called, smiling at her twin sister who had a large grin of her own.

"You're just making excuses like you always did when I'd beat your ass in track." Seph's grin turned into a cocky smile as she helped Barbara sit down.

"Language, Persephone Lucille." Michael Brandt, their father called, swatting the back of her red head gently. Persephone's hair colour was contributed from him. Seph turned and flashed her father the same cocky smile, her hazel eyes- a spitting image of her mother's eyes, looking directly into the indigo blue of her father's.

"Yes, sir!" Seph snapped, saluting her father who chuckled and kissed both of his daughter's heads, before moving to the loveseat with his wife, Cora.

As soon as Barbara was seated in a position that was most comfortable for her, Seph lay next to her. Her ear was firmly pressed to Barbara's bulging tummy, which was encasing her unborn nephew. Keeping him safe and warm until he was ready to join them in the world and be something that the Brandt's treasured.

"It's like this entire house is one big memory for me." Seph sighed, taking her hand away from the sofa and she abruptly turned and walked down the hall to the see stairs which led to the bedrooms.

She wondered. . .

With Steve hot on her heels, they climbed up the stairs:

The sound of her nephew's wails were loud and the baby monitor that was a forever constant at Babs' side, made it even louder.

Babs sighed and struggled to get up; she was overwhelmed and tired from looking after her newborn son. Her parents and Seph helped as much as they could, Seph especially, but even then, there were some things that only a mother could do.

"Woman!" Seph yelled from the kitchen, stilling Babs' advances. "Stay put, I'm going!" Seph abandoned her homework and ran for her nephew, her intentions clear as she barreled up the staircase. "Auntie Seph is coming, honey!" Seph called as she raced to his room.

Seph led them through the halls to see a door with a faded, yellowed paper sign with block letters spelling:

KEEP OUT: SEPH AND BABS' ROOM.

"Persephone. . " Steve whispered, frowning gently.

"This was the room Babs and I shared before I moved out, but she had kept everything the same. She'd tell me it reminded of her of when we were stupid. I told her that all she'd have to do was look in the mirror and see that we were still just a couple of idiots," Seph explained, a small smile curving her full lips, until her expression became dark and the smile slipped, "when Babs died . . . I was furious with her. I wanted to trash the room, completely wreck it in a fit of rage, but I couldn't. Because all I could think about was her. She'd have gotten so mad." Steve set his hands gently on Seph's shoulders, but he could feel heat coming from her body. For a woman who got cold as easily as her, it was a wonder that she got so warm so quick.

She reached for the doorknob, her hand shaking.

Turning the doorknob, she pushed the door open and there it was.

Their old room.

Spotless, just like she left it.

The walls were covered in posters from movies, T.V. shows, music bands and homemade comic reel posters. Above Seph's bed was the last issue that Steve had ever penned. Showing his friendship with Bucky throughout the years. A memorial issue that he was against publishing, but someone must have found it, after he had been declared dead, among his things. Seph had the original intact version somewhere in the room, untouched. She had bought another version to crop it and make it into a poster. He saw the sign, that had been blown up to fit the size of the poster:

Captain America:

A Fallen Hero.

In the center of the piece was a black and white photo of Bucky and Steve laughing and under the photo was the letters:

Rest in Peace

James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes

1917 - 1945

Steve looked at the poster and then at Seph, who blushed. "I-I forgot that I had it up."

"No. . it's alright. . I just didn't know it had been published and I actually think it's adorable that you were just as big a fan as Joey is." Steve said, ripping his gaze from the poster to her, as her cheeks reddened.

"Where do you think he got it from?" Seph asked as she sat on the bed.

"Welcome to Wrestlemania! Tonight, we have the long awaited match, the most anticipated moment since Moses was writing the Ten Commandments! I introduce to you, the challenger, the Hollywood Heartbreaker!" Michael called into a hairbrush, pretending it was the megaphone as he was wearing a white shirt, pretending to be the referee and announcer.

Eleven-year-old Barbara bounded in, her hands raised above her head as she whooped, Cora clapping for moral support.

"And entering the ring, weighing forty-five pounds, the current Heavyweight Champion: Miss. America~!" Michael called and Seph came running in with her homemade Captain America shield that she made out of their trash can and she had her fairy wings on her head to simulate the wings that the First Hero had on his helmet/mask.

Cora simulated the roaring crowd as Seph set the paper belt on her shoulder, standing on the mattresses that was on the floor between their beds while Cora and Michael sat on the bed, more than happy to play with them.

"Let the match begin!" Michael called and Cora grabbed her glass and tapped the side with a spoon to simulate the bell and both girls started to play-wrestle.

Seph smiled gently, her eyes roaming over every single detail. "I never thought I'd smile in this house again." She mused, still holding Steve's hand.

"Maybe your fears weren't as confronting as you first thought." Steve suggested, tightening his grip on her hand as he watched her.

Seph hummed in agreement but she was lost in another memory.

"Barbara! Let me in! It isn't just your room, y'know! I've got a hot date with a hot guy and I must fix my face!" Seph squealed through the door.

"If he saw you as hideous as you are and still asked you out, then he's brave as all hell." Barbara giggled as she heard Seph's gasp.

"Hey! You can't go calling me hideous! We have the same face!" Seph burst through the door, to see Barbara laughing, about to fall off her chair. Seph started to giggle as she helped her sister up, setting her in the chair easily. That's when she spotted the video recorder. "What are you doing with Mum and Dad's video recorder?"

"it's a video for you, for the future." Barbara answered between wheezing breaths.

"Sounds mysterious." Seph commented, rattling around the room as she grabbed her things, "why is it for me?"

"Because, if I'm not around to tell you, then a video of me will be able to do it for me." Barbara answered.

"Don't talk nonsense. You'll always be around. Imagine me trying to raise Joey, chaos will surely take over New York. I'll lose the poor kid at the supermarket or something. And don't bring up the Walmart incident!" Seph poked her sister's cheek before kissing it and she looked directly into the camera. "Hi, future old me! You better be married and a damn super model and if you're not, then I'll come through this recorder and make you! See ya!" Seph left hurriedly, leaving a hysterical Babs in her wake.

When she returned that night, Barbara was fixing the rug on their floor, since they had a small little secret passage that they hid their most important secrets, away from their parents.

Seph entered like nothing happened.

"Steve, help me with this." Seph fell to her knees on the floor, pushing the rug out of the way. Steve quickly followed suit, pushing the rug the rest of the way and she started knocking on each individual board.

"What are you looking for?" Steve asked, watching her curiously.

"I remembered something Barbara did for me years ago." Seph explained, hearing the hollow knock and she looked at Steve with a small grin playing at her lips. "Bingo." She muttered and she used the ruler on the desk to pry it up and Steve pulled it up and away.

Peering inside, there was dust and cobwebs from years of forget and neglect.

Seph blew air in the cavity slightly, the sun from the exposed window, filtering perfectly in the hole and there was all of the Brandt sister's secrets, but on top, was a VHS tape protected by all the dust and age with a tape cover.

She pulled it out and blew some of layers of dust and they both leaned back from it. "I think this is what I needed to find." Seph told Steve and he quickly put the wooden board back and set the rug in its place.

"Wanna head back and find out what your sister has to say to you?" Steve asked, both of his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her fearful eyes.

"Honestly. . . I'm terrified, Steve. I'm scared of what I'm going to find on the tape. Scared it might not hold any answers for me, scared that I came here for no reason, scared that I went through all this torture for no reason and there is no way I can help my family if that happens."

"Hey," Steve gently interjected, his hold tightening as he pulled her closer to him, pressing his lips to her forehead. "That won't happen, because I won't let it." Steve answered simply, making her smile, "and do you know why that is?" He whispered against her forehead.

"Because you're Captain America?" Seph suggested, chuckling softly, leaning her head back to look up at him with wide eyes.

"Because I care too much about you to see you get hurt." Steve answered, "and if it's ever up to me, I'll make sure you have a happy smile on your face every day. Not because you need to, but because you want to smile." His eyes locked with hers.

"Thank you." Seph whispered, shakily, leaning up on her tiptoes and she pressed a soft, gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth, her lips lingering for just a moment as if she wanted more, but it wasn't the right time. "We better head back." She sighed, taking a step back from him.

Steve cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to fight down the blush creeping from his neck to his cheeks, "yeah, yeah. We should go and get this to the Avengers Tower."

Seph nodded and they both exited her place of memories.

(..)

"Dr. Banner! You might want to have a look at this!" One of the medical examiner's called Bruce over hurriedly, looking pale and increasingly worried.

Bruce turned from his work assessing the fingerprints of the 'guests' they had locked in the containment unit, he raced to the microscope, shutting one eye tight to see what had the other medical professional so worried until he too, took a step back, his expression shocked and horrified as he shakily slipped off his glasses.

"My God."

DUN DUN DUN!

What do you think is on the tape? What do you think Bruce has found on one of the slides? Could it be related to Persephone? . .Or related to Hellfire?

You might want to keep this story on alert if you want to find out.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read, review, follow and favourite 'Her Best Boy' and me! I truly appreciate it, thank you!

~Munsurieya