Brooklyn, New York, May 1943
Josephine was busying herself around the apartment, occupying her time with cleaning or baking. It had been a few weeks since Bucky had shipped out to England and Steve had disappeared. She assumed that the military had actually taken him and she was worrying herself sick over it.
It also didn't help that her mother had fallen ill and Josephine had to take care of her while simultaneously picking up extra shifts at the diner so she could keep up with the bills. While Josephine received help from Winnifred and Bucky's sisters, she still felt so incredibly alone. Luckily, she had been receiving letters from Bucky every now and then, which eased some of her worries, but not many.
Josephine was cleaning up the kitchen when she heard a knock on the front door. Her brows furrowed in confusion at the sound. She wasn't expecting Winnifred today, and Bucky's sisters usually just walked right in without knocking. Josephine made her way to the door and opened it, her eyes immediately widening at who she saw.
In front of her stood Steve Rogers, but he wasn't the Steve that she and Bucky had left at the science expo a few weeks ago. He now stood about a foot taller than he was originally and with much more muscle. Josephine looked him over in shock and disbelief, leaving her utterly speechless.
Steve gave her a small smile. "Hey, Josie."
"S-Steve…" she stammered. "What… Is that really you?"
Steve chuckled and nodded. "It's really me. I don't have a lot of time, but I can explain everything to you," he assured. "Can I please come in?"
Josephine nodded wordlessly, stepping aside so that he could walk in. She closed the door behind Steve. "Um, c-can I get you anything to drink? Water, maybe?"
Steve shook his head. "No, thank you," he replied politely. "Why don't we sit down?"
"Sure, of course," Josephine replied, leading him over to the couch. She looked him over again and shook her head in disbelief. "Steve, what happened? I-I don't understand how…"
"That night at the expo," Steve started. "A man named Dr. Erskine approached me after our conversation. He said that he wanted to enlist me as a candidate for something called Project Rebirth," he explained. "Under his supervision, I was taken to Camp Lehigh to begin my training."
"Okay," Josephine nodded, still extremely confused. "I just… you'll have to forgive me, I-I'm not quite understanding how…" she gestured to his body. "This happened."
"I was eventually accepted for Project Rebirth," Steve continued. "Dr. Erskine had tested this, uh, treatment called the super-soldier serum on someone, but it didn't work out the way he had hoped—
"So you went and just took this serum?!" Josephine exclaimed. "Steve Rogers—
"Josie, it's okay," Steve assured. "I promise. There were separate factors that led to the serum corrupting the other individual that he had tested it on. I was taken to this secret facility and put into this, uh, machinery that Howard Stark had created. After I went through the treatment, I came out of the machine looking like," he gestured to himself. "This."
"Did it hurt, this treatment?" Josephine asked worriedly.
"Oh, yeah," Steve chuckled. "A lot. But I'm fine, Josie! Better than fine, a-all my medical issues, they're gone."
"Oh, that's great, Steve," Josephine replied sincerely.
Steve nodded in agreement and then let out a heavy sigh. "But shortly after, Dr. Erskine had been assassinated by someone who had managed to get into the facility undercover. The rest of the serum's been destroyed. Um, so, they're gonna do some testing. And then I'll be working for the USO and traveling for a while."
Josephine's brows furrowed and she tilted her head slightly. "For how long?"
"I'm not sure," Steve sighed heavily. "But I told them that before I had to leave, I needed to come see you. I needed you to know that I was okay."
"Well, I've only been worrying myself sick over you," Josephine retorted. "Between James, you, and Mama—
"Josie, what's goin' on with your ma?" Steve asked concernedly.
Josephine fiddled with the hem of her dress and looked down at her lap. "She's real sick, Stevie," her voice cracked slightly and she cleared her throat. "It doesn't… it doesn't look like she's getting any better. So, I-I've had to pick up extra shifts at the diner."
Steve looked at her sympathetically and pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged him back, still not used to his new physique. Josephine sniffled slightly and pulled away, wiping away her tears.
"It's just been a little hard, Steve," Josephine admitted. "I-I've been picking up extra shifts at the diner just to keep the lights on. I just… feel so alone, and I miss James so much."
Steve pursed his lips and took one of her hands in his. "I'm so sorry, Josie. I wish I could do more to help."
Josephine shook her head and waved him off. "Stevie, you're fine. Winnie and James' sisters have been a great help, and… I'll get through it. I'll be fine."
Steve nodded silently, still wishing he could do more to support his friend. He frowned deeply when he realized something. "Your birthday is coming up."
Josephine froze and swallowed heavily. She had been trying to avoid thinking about it. Not only would it be her first birthday without Bucky, but Steve as well. And in the coming weeks, with her mother being so ill, it could potentially be her first birthday without her mother.
"Yeah," Josephine cleared her throat. "Doesn't seem right to celebrate it this year."
"You love your birthday, you always have," Steve murmured.
Josephine just shrugged weakly. "Yeah. Not this year. Plus, I don't think my wish would come true this year."
Steve looked at his best friend sadly and truly took in her appearance. He noticed the intense bags under her eyes and that she had gotten much thinner. He felt guilt tugging at his heart. This was one of the reasons why Bucky had been so adamant about Steve staying in New York. Josephine was clearly working herself to death and refusing to take care of herself.
"Um," Josephine cleared her throat, standing up. "You probably need to get going, Steve. I-I don't wanna hold you up."
Steve stood up and grabbed her arm gently. "Josie—
"It's okay," she cut him off quickly. "I'll be okay, I promise. Go be a hero, Stevie."
Josephine forced a small smile and pulled herself from Steve's grasp. She made her way to the front door and opened it.
"I'll write to you," Steve assured. "I'll keep you updated, a-and I'll get in contact with Bucky."
"I know you will, Stevie." Josephine nodded. "Y'know I'm so proud of you, right? Fighting for what you want, what you think is right."
Steve smiled and pulled her into another hug. "Thank you, Josie," he whispered sincerely.
"You come back to me, alright?" Josephine replied firmly. "You and James, you both need to come back to me."
"Take care of yourself, Josie. Please," Steve practically begged as he released her from the hug.
"I will," Josephine assured. "I know I haven't been, but I will. Now go, don't be late, Rogers."
Steve nodded and made his way out the door. He looked over his shoulder as he walked away and gave Josephine a small wave, which she returned with a forced smile. Once Steve was out of view, Josephine closed the door and leaned against it. She let out a broken cry, swiftly wiping away her tears. In her gut, she felt that something was about to go so incredibly wrong.