The reviews are amazing, the alerts, the favorites are awesome.

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The reception of this story just blows me away. Thank you to everyone who is reading this.

My apologies this chapter is a bit shorter…mostly dialog.

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Enjoy reading!

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When I was a teenager, I used to lie out in the field behind our house looking up at the sky just thinking. Most girls at the age of sixteen were dating or going shopping with friends or hanging out and I would plan my future. My dreams and wishes of exactly what I wanted out of life. My dad used to tell me to write my future in the sky so that I would always strive for it. 'You write it high enough in the sky 'M…then you'll spend your days working to reach it. And when you do…you will be proud of who you are and all of the work it took to get you there.' My dad, the would be philosopher, was only a chef at the local steak house. My mother…a secretary for the mayor. My sister, Marlina, was the star of the family. She was the perfect daughter who was some big time doctor who worked for this huge medical research corporation. We were a family though…a nice little perfect family despite mistakes. We were just part of the simple folk of Georgia. Sweet and Simple as my mom called our lives. I never wanted that. I wanted adventure, new beginnings, a different job every day…I wanted to be out. My best friend, Deacon McVan, the boy who lived next door, the boy who actually stole my heart at the tender age of twelve would join me sometimes in the field. He would tell me his thoughts of what he wanted to do. Every year they changed.

At 11- 'I want to be a corn farmer.'

At 13- 'I think a music producer sounds cool.'

At 15- 'We should move to Hawaii…become professional surfers.'

At 17- 'We should open our own restaurant 'M.'

At 18- 'We should join the Marine's.'

And that was my last year that I was able to lay in the field behind the house and write my future in the sky. I often wondered if I should have written something different. My future that I thought I wanted wasn't everything that I dreamt it would be. He was so excited about joining though…I was just excited to see him happy for once. Life wasn't always simple for him and he had that soft place in my heart. Truth was, I would have followed Deacon anywhere and I pretty much did. After our first tour though…he didn't follow me anymore. He couldn't. I think he was my reason for taking a second tour so quickly…so readily. I felt closer to him in the hot desert. Sometimes I would lay on the desert floor at night and try to think about what I wanted my future to hold. What I wanted to be written in the sky. Alive was the only thing I could ever come up with.

The one thing I hated about being on this Helicarrier…I couldn't lay out under the sky and write my future. That would have to wait until things settled down. I haven't written anything in five years. I was afraid if I had written my future…the only word I would have chosen would have been dead.

Sighing once more I tried to imagine the sky from the field out behind my parents blue sided house. All I could see was plain black and gray metal of the cargo hold. My jacket was under my head creating a pillow, my palms spread flat against the icy floor…it was comforting. Comforting and quiet. Instead of writing, I had been thinking about last night, had been for hours now. We found thirty-seven survivors. Just thirty-seven.

37 out of 1,232

37…alive

1,195…dead

I kept going over the whole scenario in my head to where we could have gotten there on time. We show up fifteen minutes early and I kill the bad guy in return for what his experiment cursed me with. I'd hit an early retirement from SHIELD and get an apartment…with a dog. I smirked at that. I really would actually love to have a dog. Something that was capable of affection, love, and no judgment. Hearing heavy footsteps coming down the hall I wondered who was sent to find me. I had disappeared hours ago. I was pretty sure Fury was stressing that his bait was gone.

"That does not look comfortable."

I glanced over at Steve who was wearing an extremely tight t-shirt, sweat pants, tennis shoes…and carrying two Styrofoam cups. I smiled and patted the empty space beside me, "You won't know until you try it out."

He cocked an eyebrow and strolled over slowly. He sat the cups down at our heads and then proceeded to lower himself down beside me. I could tell by the look on his face he wasn't into this. I laughed as he made a face laying his head back against the metal floor. He sighed deeply, "Yep. I was right this is not comfortable."

I leaned up and shifted my jacket closer to his head, "Here…this helps."

He hesitated, but slowly scooted over. He laid his head down on one side of the jacket and I laid mine down on the other. The sides of our heads were touching, barely, but our arms were pressed against each other. I could feel the heat from his body. He had just showered. I could smell aftershave and his shampoo. He smelled completely different than Clint. The differences in them were amazing to me especially for two men that served on the same team. Clint…was more like Deacon. I shoved the thought far away as I could. We laid there in silence for a moment before I spoke, "Better?"

I heard him swallow, "Gettin' there." He took in a deep breath before he shifted and I felt his cheek graze me. My stomach tightened a bit at thought of it happening on purpose. But Steve wasn't that abrupt with his feelings or actions. I'm sure spending the past months with Stark and Banner had broken him in some what. "I, uh, I brought you some coffee. I think I got yours right. Three creams, one sugar."

I nodded, he was correct. Although I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten coffee and he had been in the room with me. "You stalking me now?"

He gave a deep chuckle that I felt rattle through his body and straight into mine, "I pay attention to things."

"Here I thought you were just paying attention to me." He shifted again and this time the backs of our hands were touching. He raised one arm and stuffed it under his head.

"I didn't specify what things."

I turned my head slightly then. He was further away from me now. I let my eyes trace down his face, his eyes were closed, and he looked half relaxed or at least like he was trying to relax. "You are bolder than what everyone's been telling me."

His eyes opened at my confession and he titled his head toward me. His blue eyes were indeed gorgeous, "Does that bother you?"

"No…" I said rolling over onto my stomach. I crossed my arms and laid my head down on them staring at him intently. He always seemed to calm me when I was around him. He confused me at times though, but the feeling that he gave me when I was with him. Well, it was a new feeling…one that I'm not sure if I wanted to lose.

He inhaled slowly as he looked away, "I'm…I'm not really good with all of this stuff. You know…being pulled from time so long and then just shoved back into everything. It's…been difficult."

I nodded against my arm and closed my eyes listening to him talk. His voice was lowered, there was such an emotion behind it. "I think you do fine talking to me."

"You scare the hell out me. Pardon me but you do." I opened my eyes at that and found his watching me. I felt my chest ache and wondered if it was all of the flame stuff. I sat up suddenly and reached for the coffee. I sipped on it to find it actually quite pleasing to my taste buds.

"I'm sorry," I whispered softly. He lifted himself up and sat there a moment shaking his head. I heard him curse under his breath as his jaw tightened. I nervously fiddled with my hair. It was down now, blue highlights apparent more than ever. I knew what would happen if I didn't keep up my hair dye habits. I would have completely blue hair. I'm not sure how I felt about that. I could picture my dad's face- if he saw me like this.

"No…No…that's not it. You just…" he stopped and sighed heavily. I gently laid my hand over his and his eyes shifted down at them. He swallowed before he took a breath, "I'm not good at the whole man/woman thing. I'm trying my hardest and…you make it difficult for me."

"Oh…I-I thought you meant my…condition." He turned toward me, forehead scrunched. He shook his head, a small smirk ghosting his face. I gnawed my lip for a few moments, "I'm…dangerous Steve. God, look at me. I can't sleep. I'm a wreck half the time, but I just hide it well. My hair is going blue! I'm…I used to be a person. Now I'm just this…condition. I'm Flame. That's who I am now."

"I don't see that. I see you Marcy. No Flame, nothing dangerous, not…blue hair. I just see you and I…I really, really like what I see." I searched his eyes and smirked as I started to lean closer. He was frozen, eyes half wide. I was pretty sure this was skipping a few courting rules from his era. Right now, at this moment…I wanted to kiss him.

Someone's throat cleared, abruptly, and we both scrambled about a bit. Thor was standing awkwardly in the door, "My honest apologies. I shall…return later."

I hid my laugh as he left with a mumble. Steve stared at me with wide shocked eyes before he began laughing too. His eyes lit up, wrinkles creased around the edges of his eyes, his wide white smile beamed at me and I felt lost again. My lips were on his in seconds and I could feel his indecision on what to do. My fingers toyed with the hair just a the nape of his neck and finally his lips moved against mine. Of course, it wasn't as graceful as it should have been, but instinct must have taken over because the next thing I knew…he was pulling me into his lap. One swift movement of about three seconds- his supernaturally strong muscles had moved in such little effort. My legs on either side of his thighs, here I was straddling him in a very unlady like way. His arms wrapped around me tighter as he lips moved to catch up with mine. I couldn't help but moan into his mouth. He shifted and pulled back slightly, a question in his eyes. I shook my head and let a breathless sigh escape in my words, "Good sounds…good sounds."

"Oh, okay…" his head jerked up and down a few times before pulling me closer again. Knocking froze us once again. I looked over in exasperation. Seriously? Did I need to hang a Do Not Disturb sign outside? Thor's hand was waving vigorously in front the doorway as he stood off to the side out of sight.

"Friends...pardon the intrusion. Stark would like to see Rogers and myself in the laboratory. My apologies for the…interruption of…festivities."

I buried my face into Steve's shoulder trying to stop him from seeing the grin and embarrassment that was plastered on my face. Festivities? Oh Boy… I wondered how long it would take Stark to learn of the festivities. Steve let out a small sigh, "I'll meet you there in twenty. Thank you Thor."

According to what I felt…he would need a few minutes to compose himself. I tried to shuffle off of him, quickly without touching or causing more harm. He looked embarrassed as he scooted his body around and turned away from me. "I'm sorry. You'll have to forgive me Marcy."

I laid my hand on his shoulder gently and swallowed dryly trying to figure out just what to say. He's a ninety-two year old man trapped in a twenty-five year olds body. He was so proper and decent- it was hard for me to adjust to, "It's okay Steve…trust me. It's fine. I practically attacked you. I should be apologizing."

He laughed bitterly as he stood, "The only reason you should be apologizing is if you didn't mean it Marcy. Otherwise…don't you ever apologize to me for showing your affections."

I stood and wrapped my arms around. He waited for a second before wrapping his own around me. I kissed his chin and smiled up at him, "I'll never apologize then."

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Eveilyn14- So glad my writing can give you goosebumps!

Marinebrat0311- No problem! :o)

Wishfulhamadryad- Thank you. I think she's pretty awesomely badass. :o)

:o)

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Disclaimer: I own nothing…at all.

Marcy James is my own creation.