Well here we are folks last chapter to the first story! Wow! Can't believe I actually did it, after so long of hoarding this to myself I am overjoyed to be able to share this story with you. FEAR NOT! This is just the beginning, my next edition will be posted this week also, I PROMISE! Just have to do some polishing and editing, but will continue the story of Edie and Steve. To halt my stalling, please enjoy and review! I appreciate all of your support. xoxoxoxoxox
P.S: This chapter is MATURE, please skip those parts or whole chapter if you are not into it. Also I do not own the Avengers or the song "I'll be seeing you." by Billie Holiday
Bruce's findings seemed to draw a collective sigh of relief from the battle beaten Avengers.
"She's in critical condition, we need to get her to the lab."
Steve's nerves began to tremble, apprehension clenching a knot in his stomach the further the conversation advanced.
"Can you save her?" Clint asked the looming question.
"I can try, it's not finalized yet but…Tony and I were attempting to replicate the serum that was used in operation Rebirth for a situation like this..I'm not sure if its stable enough-" Banner tripped over the words, knowing how sensitive the elements were and the risk that entailed.
"Please..try Doctor." Steve spoke up, casting grief filled baby blues towards the peaceful expression held tightly in his arms.
Bruce's face twisted with unease as he sighed a silent prayer that the science was correct, realizing this was their only option if they hoped to revive Edith.
"Let's get her back to the lab, hopefully if it wasn't damaged in the fight then I'll be able to start the procedure there." Bruce caved.
"We're working against the clock people, let's move." Tony's strong voice barked, moving to reattach his face plate when the Captain spoke suddenly.
"Tony…would you..?"
Extending Edie's limp form, despite the overwhelming need to keep her close Steve knew Tony could get her there much faster.
"It would be an honor, Cap." Gently lacing his metallic arms around her, Tony booted up the thrusters.
"I'll see you up there." Rogers nodded, scooping up his shield he began a powerful sprint towards the iconic building dotted against the skyline.
The muscular blond allowed himself to focus on nothing more than the route in front of him. Aware if he let his thoughts entertain the possibility of the failure of the serum he would surely break down. His walls as fragile as bone China, one crack and it would all come crumbling down.
The dismantled scenery of the city blurred past Steve in a haze, he soon found himself climbing the cement stairs when a flash of memories flooded his conscience.
"You gotta catch me, Steve!"
Edie's echoing laugh kissed his cheek as he watched their ghosting figures run passed him up the staircase.
Her smile wide and ponytail bouncing.
Steve stalled for a moment, relishing in the scene dancing through his tortured mind.
"You're gonna get it, Doll."
Her laughter shrieked as he drew closer, snaking an arm around her waist Steve had her caged against the wall. Lips knipping along the skin of her jaw, something he'd done a hundred times over and yet never quite satisfied that urge.
Edie was his weakness that somehow made him stronger, his addiction that did not break him but put him back together.
The ghost of Edith caught Steve's eye as he stood paralyzed in the corridor, white knuckling his shield. The green intensity fixated on him knocked the air from his chest.
"I love you, Steve."
And as quickly as the two appeared they vanished, leaving the soldier in a haze of fresh sorrow and the world finally seemed to crash upon his shoulders.
Misty eyes falling across the smoothly painted walls that seemed to be slowly closing in on him.
The silence was deafening.
It was in this quiet that Steve grasped the reality of Edie's haunting influence on his entire life.
That night at the Stark Convention, she'd shared a small comment that flared his drive to join the fight and though she did not know him, it was her father that recruited Steve.
She single handedly saved Bucky on several occasions, unknowingly ensuring their reunion and in the end helping to dismantle HYDRA.
And despite the fact that he was unaware of her presence on the plane that day with Red Skull, Edie was there during Steve's last moments.
Their last moments, together.
"I believe a soldier isn't measured in his physical strength but rather the bravery he has in his heart."
The words Edie spoke that night in New York all those years ago ghosted the Captain's ear, it was the first time he'd laid eyes on the love of his life and something snapped within. Suddenly the color returned to Steve's world and he was sprinting upward, taking the stairs two at a time. Marching through the familiar hall the events of just a few hours seemed years away.
A whole world away even.
Everywhere he looked, there she was.
Heels clicking next to his boots down the corridors they'd walked countless times together, a few floors below held his bed that now carried her scent against the sheets and that very lab was where she broke down in his arms, the news of her family still fresh in the air.
The Captain was met with a buzzing of conversation as soon as he entered the room. Luckily the lab had survived the firefight with minimal damage and was up in running in no time. Both the Doctor and Tony were racing around, furiously giving typed commands to the systems.
But his stormy blue eyes found her immediately, a cool sweat returning at the sight of Edie's perfectly still body cradled in the incubation pod.
The chamber resembling the one created by Tony's father, but with a more modern and glossy touch. Steve was suddenly flooded with a swarm of buried memories of that very day.
And It was as those polished white doors began to descend to seal Edie inside that the soldier strained a protest.
"Wait..!"
Everyone turned, following his movements as Steve fell in beside Edie's still form.
He took a moment, as if to memorize every detail of her tranquil expression. Clasping Edie's hand gently in his, Steve relished in the comfort of her touch as he drew circles across the silky skin.
It all seemed so foreign and yet all too familiar.
Scientists. The world at war. Sacrifice.
It was as if someone had just changed the surroundings. Lending a broad hand to push back a wave of black, Steve smiled fondly at the sweetness of her face. With a deep breath of courage, tears pooled behind those oceans as the soldier leaned closer with a whisper.
The group respectfully hung back, waiting quietly as Steve stepped away with nod of approval before resuming.
Commencing a countdown, Tony and Bruce began to boot up the systems and soon had the Healer locked in the pod. Without her hand to hold in this anxious time Steve gripped the shield tighter, chewing relentlessly on the fullness of his bottom lip as the day of his transformation began to overlay into the present.
Surrounded by strangers with the pressure of the situation mounting, Steve gulped passed the anxiety closing this throat. One by one he felt the needles, the burning in his muscles radiated through the bones below with an overwhelming ache.
Was this what Edie was going to feel? Was she going to survive this?
The group all held their breath as the machine booted up with a hum, knots clenching in their stomachs when Stark gave the final call and launched the process.
A silence blanketed the lab and no one dared to move, all kept a fixated gaze on the chamber as it beamed with life.
Countless levels on the vast screen held steady, and Steve's eyes found the mapping of Edie's heartbeat that began to strengthen with each further advancement the scientists initiated.
It was under the cover of their distraction though that a shadowy figure crept in and seized an opportunity, dark magic dancing at the ends of his nimble fingers.
-0-
"That must have been difficult for you."
The Captain panned up from studying the lines of his palms.
"I don't think difficult quite covers it." Steve heard the ice chipping from his tone as the words answered the young therapist.
"I'm sorry, I just meant it must have been strenuous for you, to entrust the fate of Miss Andrews in the hands of these men. And to get so close." She elaborated further, hoping to recover the Captain's open dialog.
"Tony would have done anything to save her. He loved her just as much as me. Dr. Banner as well, they did everything they could…" Steve countered with conviction, refocusing his attention back on the cool metal encircling his finger.
He toyed nervously with the ring, anxiety clawing up his chiseled chest. Steve wanted nothing more than to fall apart, to bare his aching soul and be answered with a warm embrace and the faint smell of lemons that always seemed to calm his every fear.
But she wasn't there, the spot beside him absent and overwhelming.
His chest began to tighten and air seemed just out of reach.
"Edie…I.." Steve's voice shook, tears choking his throat. His fists whitened with tension and everything became a vibrating haze.
A buzzing resonated from beside the therapist and Steve faintly heard her voice request someone's presence.
Moments later the doors opened from across the room and a blotchy silhouette appeared, quickly skating to his side.
Steve was kissed with a familiar scent.
-0-
Unresponsive and unaware of her surroundings, Edie lay passively against the table.
From the safety of the inside a tingling began to spread through the Healer's body as a series of injections began to regenerate her damaged tissue. Quickly the serum worked to rebuild Edie's impaired systems, altering her cells with each passing moment.
It was during the second set of biological shots that Edie began to regain consciousness. The light of reality dimmed and then flashed with a snap, pulling Edie back to earth with a jolt. Her senses were overwhelmed and she struggled to piece together the frayed edges of the world around her. It was shortly afterwards that the tingle shifted to an acute shock of agony and the channels of her mind darkened.
A searing pain bolted through every nerve in Edie's body and she unleashed a strained scream against the small glass window.
"Loki, put the scepter down now." Thor's voice held a calmness that opposed his ridgid stance, the thundering god stepped forward. Everyone seemed to have the same idea: build a wall between Steve and the god of mischief.
Natasha swallowed back the unease as she eyed the Captain from her peripheral, his hands had begun to tremble with rage and she was sure she'd heard a throaty growl curl his perfect lips.
Before their minds could even register what was happening, Loki had seized control of the power pumping towards the machine with the help of the luminescent scepter, he was now infusing his own dark spells through the channels and directly into Edith's recovering being.
But it was a certain scientist that had had enough of Loki's games, one that was growing greener by the minute.
"Fear not, soldier. Once this is complete, and her consciousness is fulling consumed with nothing more than dark magic I will take good care of her. Once she is all mine."
The towering blond lunged through the chain of bodies lined in front of him, tasting blood against his tongue and rage clouding his vision Steve strained to grip the weasley man by the throat.
But Loki's seething smirk was soon erased with a sharp thud as his feet were swept from under him by a hulking fist.
Everyone scattered in every direction when the green beast made his appearance, throwing the lanky god with such ease and strength that Loki felt the bruising of his lungs erupt in a wheezing cry.
Steve's anger melted to concern when another shriek pierced the air, every nerve in his body stood on end and his heart quivered at the sound of life within the chamber.
"Edie?!" Steve scrambled towards the pod, squinting against the white light that beamed through the glass.
"Stark! Shut it down!" Steve barked, daring to rip the very doors off the contraption himself.
Tony sprung towards the control panel, hand hovering over the emergency lever. The Captain urged him to cease the procedure immediately. Steve couldn't within stand this any longer, he couldn't sit idly by as Edie endured this torture.
"No! Don't!" Edie's voice suddenly strained through the pain, stopping Tony's movements.
"I..I can-"
Steve was thrown back when a flare of energy and white light cracked through the metal plates of the incubator and Edie erupted another screech.
Nearly leveling the lab, the blast caught everyone off guard but luckily no one was injured. Creeping from behind various dismantled pieces of equipment the team emerged through the cloud of smoke.
The Captain clambered upward, extending an outstretched hand he helped Edie step out from the crippled remains of the pod, miraculously unscathed from the eruption.
"Thank you.." Edie coughed away the soot, accepting his broad hand with ease.
"Captain America?...is that you?" Edie halted in her tracks, studying the man's handsome profile as if through new eyes.
Steve exchanged a panicked gaze with Tony, fearful to breath words to his conclusion. They'd learned the true cost that the serum charged.
Her memory.
"It could be temporary. Her body has been through alot in the past 24 hours." Tony pointed out in an assured tone, despite the small flower of fear and regret that budded in his conscience.
With the Hulk now in full throttle, watching the beaten god like a hawk it was up to Tony to access the results. Searching aimlessly the Ironman found a flashlight, stepping in front of Edie he tested her pupils reactions.
Had he miscalculated? Had he read the equations wrong?
"I saw your show once. Overseas, you're a lovely dancer." Edie beamed with a shy smile, oblivious to the hushed disappointed that hung over the room.
"Why thank you, would you like to go dancing sometime?" Steve played along, blinking back the anguish that glazed across his stormy blues. Lifting her hand to his lips, he tasted her skin as if it was the first time. Smiling weakly at the giggle gracing her expression.
"I'd love to."
She was alive and healthy, physically at least. What more could Steve ask for? Sure, the memories they'd built together over the time since they met now were real only to him. She had no idea that they'd laughed together, cried together, shared secrets and…layed tangled in each other's arms after expressing their love in the most physical way.
But at least she was alive.
Steve struggled against the battling thoughts swarming in his mind, her emerald eyes stared up at him without a trace of healing white or conscious knowing. Before Edie could step towards the idling members of the Team, Steve caught her hand. Clearing his throat lightly he dug down for the courage with a deep breath.
"I'll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places that this heart of mine embraces, all day and through."
The lab stilled as Steve's strong voice shook a bit, syllables of the song falling from those full lips and capturing Edie's curiosity. The soldier continued, brushing back a silken wave of raven hair from her cheek. He caged the desperation that dared to break his calm exterior. He was taking a leap of faith. Hoping deep down she would recognize him and the words to her favorite song, one that had played numerous times as they stood holding each other in a slow embracing dance. Steve mirrored her small smile.
"In that small cafe, the park across the way. The children's carousel.."
Edie followed the handsome man's movements, broad hands engulfing hers with a gentleness that opposed his towering form.
Her brain struggled to access the situation, a seed of familiarity began to bloom the longer those pale blue eyes implored her, silenting singing their own song that she tried desperately to recognize.
Puffing a nervous laugh, Edie kept her gaze locked on the gorgeous blond who continued to serenade her without embarrassment in front of these people whose faces erected a flag in the Healer's mind. It was as she spanned a fidgeting hand up the muscles of her neck, that something caught her attention. Cool metallic links rippling as her fingers followed the chain to the starred pendant at the end and the discovery ignited the first flash of lost memories.
Her pulse raced when a pair of steely eyes revealed themselves from behind a neat haircut, sandy tresses sweeping across his brow as they collided shoulders. He smiled at her for the first time, and even New York paled in comparison. Full lips spanning wide and pearly in the dim lighting of the recruitment exhibit.
Edie's eyes clamped shut and her head jerked with the overwhelming flood of scenes resurfacing in her mind.
Seagulls squawked overhead, and the bustling noises of the boardwalk seemed muted in the wake of his laughter. Broad hand clasping his rumbling chest and the sight before her had Edie floating above the clouds dotting the golden horizon.
Edie braced herself against Steve's firm biceps, head spinning as her neurons sparked into overdrive.
The apartment smelled of him, blanketing her in his essence from the moment her heels clicked against the hardwood. The moonlight danced across his smooth, sculpted skin and it was as if a piece of artwork had come to life before her. The ripples of his muscular form had Edie's heart pounding but it was the sheer glow of those ocean orbs that truly had her breathless. "I love you, Edie."
Hooded eyes snapped open in an instant, the gleam of recognition returning to her emerald pools as familiarity set in. A panicked gaze took in her surroundings and it was as if Edie had finally awakened. The Healer struggled for words as the hopeful faces of the Avengers welcomed her back with wide grins but it was the soldier in front of her that truly had Edie speechless.
He was on bended knee in front of her, smile wide and as beautiful as ever.
"What'do you say, Doll?"
The final piece of recollection fell into place with a ghosting whisper.
Her body lay dormant against the metallic confines of the unit. It was a warm caress and unshaken voice that pierced through her unconsciousness.
"Come back to me...come back and marry me, Gorgeous."
Without another thought, Edie answered with a vigorous and teary nod.
"Yes, yes of course." Her voice hitched, heart swelling at the beaming smile that graced Steve's handsome cheeks.
She soon felt the tight embrace of the Captain's strong arms around her and sweetness of his mouth against her lips.
The labs atmosphere had escalated to an animated celebration after the wild ride of emotions and events that had taken place in such a short amount of time.
Steve dared not let go of Edie, vowing to never let her out of his sight again. He didn't know if he'd ever been this happy and he wasn't sure if happy could even completely describe the abundance of joy that filled his chest.
The weight of the world was suddenly alleviated from the soldier's back, shouldered not only by the woman he loved with his whole heart but who was also now his fiancé.
He could barely fathom that this was real, but it was. Edie was alive, breathing and smiling as she greeted the rest of the room.
"So who's up for some Shawarma?"
The team all joined together in an exhausted laugh at Tony's sudden suggestion. Rogers coughed an elated chuckled, tugging Edie back to his chest he placed a kiss into the scent of her hair.
-0-
The mechanical hum of the PET scan machine died down and the blinding fluorescent light welcomed Edie back to the outside world.
Easing up from the table the Healer was greeted by a familiar shy smile, hands fidgeting with the wire of his glasses.
"What's up, doc?" Ruby lips dripped with playfulness.
"Everything's come back with flying colors, Edie. It's remarkable." Bruce offered to help the young woman down from the machine with an outstretched hand.
"Your systems have fully recovered and your cells are now adapting to your every need. Thank you for allowing me to conducts all those tests." The Doctor filed in beside Edie, opening the door for her.
Since the transformation though her outer appearance had not been altered, under the skin Edie was reborn.
Her strength and stamina had increased to superhuman levels, she had now acquired the ability to access a person's weakness and injuries by a simple scan of her eyes over their body. Her cells could now replicate at an expedient rate, they could also adapt to any environmental change. With the altering of her cells Edie could now tolerate a vast range of extreme temperatures or situations and oxygen limitations with little or no discomfort.
"It's I who should be thanking you, Bruce. Without you-"
"Please, Edie you've thanked me ten times over. I was happy to do it, I was relieved that the calculations were correct. It came down to your strength and that is a department you're surely not lacking in, that's for certain." Bruce halted her words with an assuring tone.
The two were walking back to the lab, now temporarily held in another one of Tony's many corporate owned buildings until the reconstruction of the Stark tower was complete when they were barred by a huffing secretary.
"Mrs. Rogers, you're needed in Dr. Cooper's office right away. Please follow me."
Edie read the urgency painted across the younger woman's flushed cheeks and immediately complied.
"I'm so sorry, Bruce."
The scientist quickly waved Edie on, insisting she owed him no apology.
Maroon heels clicked furiously against the glossy tiled hall, retracing her steps towards the therapist office where she had been just a short time earlier.
Pushing through the door with rigid hands, Edie gadged the room and soon found herself moving on instinct.
Crossing the suffocating atmosphere of the office, Edie crouched in front of the heaving man, clasping his trembling hands into her own.
"Hey, handsome."
Steve's head jerked upward and the misty expression that stared back at her had Edie's heart seized with panic but she kept her composure.
Combing back soft tresses of sandy hair from his brow, Edie trailed a hand to swipe away the wetness from his cheek.
Neither had to speak an auditable word, sharing the beginnings of a small smile and an intimate bond was all it took.
"What'do you say we get outta here?"
The light of Steve's smile reached his eyes as he gave slow nod, following Edie's lead they soon put the building at their backs.
The Harley's engine growled to a halt against the curb, looping a leg over the seat Edie waved a cheeky grin towards the well dressed Tony Stark.
"Well if it isn't the newlyweds, how's the new digs treating you? The Avengers tower will be up and running in no time, if Pepper ever decides on the paint colors. I mean how hard is it, really? Personally I'm a fan of red and gold."
"Hello, to you too Tony." Edie shook her blackened waves with an smirk, cranning upward to give the genius a peck on the cheek and earning herself a light blush.
"Better watch this one, Cap. She's a heartbreaker."
"Don't I know it." Steve answered, lacing an arm around his wife's shoulder.
The three were soon joined by the remaining team, Bruce included as they neared the center of the square.
Subconsciously the soldier shifted Edie closer under his protection as Thor shuffled passed with a tightly shackled Loki in his grasp.
The mortals observed while Dr. Selvig handed over the very heart of this entire chain of events, Tesseract pulsing with a blue hue as it was placed between the two gods. Edie watched in awe as the towering men soon evaporated before her very eyes.
It was shortly afterward that the team too took their leave, swapping goodbyes and promises to keep in touch once settled in.
Strolling hand in hand back to the motorcycle, the couple paused for a moment.
Slipping nimble arms around the creased leather of his jacket, Edie placed her chin against the drumming of Steve's heart.
"Where to now, Doll?"
Chewing her ruby lip with giddiness the Healer answered with an uncontrollable sense of contentment.
"Take me home, Teddybear."
-0-
With the slow collection of new items and movement of Edie's own possessions, the apartment soon transformed into a collage of their life together.
Heels congregated at the bottom of the closet, her brightly colored sweaters cozied up to his weathered leather jacket, while thick novels found their place nestled against his vinyls and there was now a trailing hint of lemons whenever you entered a room.
It didn't matter that it wasn't the 40's, or that this era around them was uncharted and unfamiliar, all that matter was it was their time. The universe had united these two after so many had tried to separate them. They picked up right where they left off that night at the convention, chemistry never lacking between them.
"I'll be seeing you, in every lovely summer's day. In everything that's light and gay."
Edie swayed to the audience of the kitchen, toweling off a glossy plate before tucking it away with its remaining counterparts.
The warm light overhead painted her in a soft glow and had Steve hanging in the doorway, arms crossed and admiring.
"I'll always think of you that wayyy."
The sudsy bubbles accompanied her voice in the humming air of the apartment.
"Didn't your mother tell you it's not polite to stare?"
Steve couldn't fight the smirk playing on his lips, he'd been caught.
"Wasn't I the one who told you I'd do the dishes?" The taller of the two countered, crossing the gap between them.
"Oh, please it's the least I can do after that delicious meal you made. What was it called again?"
"Stir fry." Steve murmured to the silken skin of Edie's neck, nuzzling further against the Healer's weak spot with tender lips. His broad hands spanned the material hugging her hips, his growing need making itself known against the roundness of her backside.
Edie's hands stilled in the steamy water, air hitching in her throat the further Steve explored.
"You know..I'm suddenly in the mood for dessert."
The sultry words vibrated against Edie's ear and suddenly her hands were no longer the wettest part of her body.
Craning her swan neck the Healer sought after the sinful sweetness of her husband's mouth, earning herself a growl from the heated man when she dared to nibble the fullness of his bottom lip.
Soon Edie was engulfed in his scent, fully caged in Steve's arms she was suddenly welcomed by the plush cushions of the living room couch. Edie gasped a moan, fighting for air in the cloud of ecstasy rapidly filling their apartment. A sinful shiver curled the young woman's spine when a pair of large hands snaked their way under her dress to grip the swell of her hips with greed. Through blurred vision Edie began working the buttons of Steve's shirt, nimble fingers trembling to focus. Seconds ticked to minutes in a blur of insatiable hands and kiss swollen lips, each battling to taste more of the other.
Edie shifted her hands from their knotted position in the soldier's golden hair to the waistline of his pants, working to remove the last offending garment. Like unleashing a beast from its cage Steve's throbbing member sprung from the confines of his trousers, seeking the warmth that beckoned from between Edie's creamy thighs.
Steve's handsome face dropped into the curve of Edie's neck as a manicured hand pumped the length of him, and a pair of strawberry lips found the weak spot tucked behind his ear, working a rhythm that had his toes curling.
Stormy eyes revealed themselves from behind hooded lashes and Edie felt the air escape her lungs at the beautiful sight. Before the Healer could catch that fleeting breath she felt a pressure at her entrance, Steve slowly guided himself between her most intimate lips. She arched her perky chest against Steve's rippling form with a quivered moan, the thickness of the Captain filling Edie completely.
Their bodies moved as one, clinging tightly to each other the pleasure increased as they found a rhythm. Steve's muscular hips rocked back and forth, dipping into Edie's velvety tightness with long, punctuated thrusts. He felt her body tense abruptly and her throat expel a heated cry when the length of him stroked a certain spot. Steve drew back to study her face, flushed and beautifully yearning.
Edie instinctively reach out when she no longer felt the blanketing warm of him, he'd craned back to take in the alluring sight before him.
Quivering and filled to the hilt, his wife beckoned him closer. The light caught her silver wedding band and Steve was overcome with gratification.
"Shhh..I'm right here, Gorgeous. I'm not going anywhere."
Steve soothed Edie's whimpers through darkened lust, catching her delicate hand to paint kisses along the sweet skin, hovering over the silver band that bound them forever.
With an easing motion, Steve's hands spanned the back of Edie's thighs to hook behind her knees and bloom those elegant legs wider.
At first Edie protested against the Captain's slow, methodic pace seeking more of him each time he withdrew.
That was until he found it again, that velvety spot that had Edie's muscles grasping Steve tighter and rearing up from the pillows with a raspy breath.
A smirk curled those full lips of his and Steve was down right primal. Feral desires flared with need and so did his pace. Watching Edie's budding breasts bounce with each increased and deliberate thrust, Steve pushed her closer towards a shaking orgasm.
"Yes! Steve!"
Edie's voice became desperate with ecstasy, his beautiful features blurred with each passing second. Green eyes rolled behind fluttering lashes as the Healer's body arched against the couch, pulse racing. Steve watched from hooded eyes as Edie unraveled beneath him, beckoning him over that edge after her with tightly clamped muscles.
"Shit, Doll."
Steve growled, jaw tensing with the last sharp thrusts of energy he had.
His towering form collapsed against Edie on the couch, riding out the last burst of his orgasm into the warmth of her quivering center.
The air around them stilled with the dying sounds of their hitching breaths, Edie welcomed the embrace of Steve's arms around her as he slipped from her legs and joined her against pillows.A sense of peace settled over them and Edie stipend a satisfied yawn, snuggling deeper into the warmth of Steve's chest when a framed picture caught her attention. A sleepy grin graced her strawberry lips as the Healer slipped into a lulling slumber with the thoughts of that day in New York fresh in her mind.
"Are you sure about this?"
Edie asked nervously, re-adjusting the Yamaka against his sandy hair.
"Positive, this is your heritage and now part of mine. Stop stalling, Tony's going to kill us if we're late." Steve hummed his assurance, caging Edie's fidgeting hands against his chest.
Admiring her beauty in the pale sunlight, Steve felt his breath fleeting the longer he stared. Raven waves framed gleaming emerald eyes and the silkened ivory of her dress veiled her curves in a way that left his hands itching for a touch.
"It's our wedding, and we're worried about Tony." Edie shook her head with a knowing grin towards the floor.
A gentle grasp caught her chin and Edie was met with a crystal blue gaze.
"The only one I'm ever worried about is you." Steve expressed sweetly, stealing a tender kiss against Edie's plump lips.
"Shall we?"
Feeling the swift flutter of butterflies erupt within the cage of her ribs, the Healer gave an eager nod.
With the help of Tony's influence and thanks to much of the city still under construction from the Chitauri attack Steve and Edie were able to reserve that very spot where they met all those years ago. Despite the new buildings and businesses now erected around it, the spot held just as much significance as it did the night of the convention and how poetic was it that a Stark was officiating the event.
Stepping out into the street, the couple were greeted with a neat line of smiling faces. Opting against the traditional ceremony, Edie and Steve decided to descend the aisle together. With looped arms the two made their way towards the grinning Ironman, donning his own Yakama for the event. Stopping just short of the dark haired man, the couple turned to face one another, mirroring wide smiles.
With a dramatic clearing of his throat Tony comensed the ceremony.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two fossils in holy matrimony."
The gathering erupted in a wave of laughter, including a well earned eye roll from the Healer. Despite the carnage that littered their beloved city and the now constant looming threat of another strike against their vulnerable blue planet, the Avengers turned the page to the next chapter in their lives, with hopeful dispositions, a reborn Healer and as always quick wit from a particular billionaire, genius, philanthropist...
Well there you have it! See...Edie survived unharmed and completely back to her old self...or did she? Find our in my next story, following the timeline through the Winter Soldier. Calling all Bucky fans, that yummy Sergeant will be making his appearance! xoxoxox