Brooklyn, New York, August 1947

Josephine was sitting at her desk working on some paperwork when Howard walked over and stopped in front of her desk. She figured that he was here to discuss something regarding the new organization that would absorb the SSR. The new organization would center around preventing another threat like HYDRA from rising.

"Howard," Josephine greeted with a friendly smile. "How can I help you?"

"That project that I was going to recruit you for," Howard started. "I think it's close to being ready."

Josephine knew that he was being vague for a reason. The project that Howard had been working on was top secret and needed to be kept under wraps. Ever since Dr. Erskine's assassination, Howard had been working on creating a replica of the super soldier serum. He knew it was going to be hard to do, especially because all they had to go off of now were a few blood samples from Steve Rogers.

Josephine's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really?" she asked, earning a nod from the man in front of her. "Howard, that's amazing!" she beamed.

"You, Peggy, and I will need to meet privately later this evening." Howard instructed.

"Of course." Josephine nodded. "I'll see you later this evening, Howard."

~/~\~

Later that night, Howard, Peggy, and Josephine met in a secluded lab. Set up on the table were several vials filled with a blue liquid and in the middle of the room was a vita-ray chamber.

"I think I've finally created a replica of Erskine's super soldier serum," Howard declared proudly.

"Are you sure?" Peggy asked skeptically. "It took him much longer than a few years to perfect his version of the serum."

"Well, it's not an exact replica." Howard replied. "And he didn't have prior research or blood samples to use when creating it for the first time."

"How do we know that this version of the serum will actually work?" Josephine asked.

Howard pursed his lips. "Well, that's why we need a… test subject," he answered.

"You want to test this on some random individual?" Josephine scoffed in disbelief.

"Well, no. Not some random individual." Howard replied. "Someone who I consider mentally and emotionally strong enough to handle this sort of thing."

Josephine and Peggy just looked at each other, unsure of what he was alluding to. Josephine folded her arms across her chest and raised her brows, prompting Howard to continue.

"Someone like… you, Josie." Howard added, a twinge of nervousness in his voice.

Josephine's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!" she balked. "Howard, you're crazy, there's no way I can handle that! Who knows if it would even work on me!"

"Josie, think about it," Howard pleaded. "You've been through so much in such a short time and you've persevered. This serum will just enhance those qualities physically."

Josephine couldn't believe what she was hearing. Howard Stark basically wanted to use her as his own personal lab rat.

"Plus, you've already become a natural at hand-to-hand combat." Howard added in attempt to persuade her. "Your physical abilities will also be improved. Just like Rogers'."

Josephine flinched slightly at the mention of her late best friend's name. She felt anxiety bubbling up inside of her and she felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Josie?" Peggy asked worriedly.

"I need a minute." Josie breathed out before immediately turning and walking out of the room.

~/~\~

Josephine was sitting on the ground in the hallway, her back up against the wall. Her hair was wild and messy from repeatedly running her hands through it. She looked up when she heard heels clacking on the floor to see Peggy.

"Hey Pegs," Josephine greeted as she turned her gaze to stare blankly ahead.

Peggy sat down next to her and took Josephine's hand in hers comfortingly. "Is there anything that I can do to help?" she asked gently.

"I just needed to take a minute to process what Howard's askin' of me." Josephine answered as she tried to steady her breathing. "And when he mentioned Steve… I just kinda got overwhelmed."

Peggy nodded in understanding. "And that's okay," she assured. "I'd be more concerned if you automatically jumped at the chance to participate in a risky experiment."

"Yeah," Josephine agreed and the pair fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments. "Pegs, what do you think I should do?"

Peggy gave her friend an empathetic smile, understanding her confliction. "Oh, you know that I can't answer that for you, Josie."

Josephine sighed heavily and nodded. "I knew you were gonna say that." she muttered. "I wish James was here," she used her free hand to pick at a loose threat on her blouse. "He would know what to say right now."

The past two and half years without Bucky had been so hard, even though Josephine had made a lot of progress with her grief journey. She often still found herself wishing that Bucky was there to help her through all of the hard decisions.

"I know, sweetheart." Peggy squeezed her hand. "Howard doesn't expect an answer from you tonight," she assured. "He just wanted to propose the idea to you."

"I know." Josephine nodded. "It's just… what if it doesn't work? What if I disappoint everyone, Pegs?"

"Oh, Josie," Peggy's eyes softened. "You wouldn't disappoint anyone. I promise you that. In fact, I believe that everyone would look up to you for doing something like this. Not too many people would willingly let Howard Stark inject them with a new serum."

"Stevie did," Josephine chuckled. "Always so courageous, even when we begged him to stay out of trouble. Y'know, when he was first injected with the serum, he told me it hurt," she recalled. "You were there, right?"

Peggy nodded. "I was," she confirmed. "And I can attest to the fact that it was painful for him. We almost stopped the procedure, but he insisted that we continue."

Josephine snorted at that. "Well, of course, that's just who Steve was," she smiled softly at the memory of her friend. "He would go through an intense amount of pain if it meant that he could help others."

It was then that Josephine knew what she had to do. If going through this could lead to her being able to help other people and further science, then who was she to say no to that? Josephine let go of Peggy's hand and stood up. Peggy looked up at her friend, utterly confused.

"What are you doing?"

"I know what I'm going to tell Howard." Josephine smiled.

~/~\~

Josephine and Peggy walked back into the lab. Howard looked up from what he was working on, relief flashing across his face.

"Josie, I thought you left," he admitted. "I'm sorry, I know that was a lot to drop on you and—

"It's okay, Howard," Josephine interrupted. "I'm okay. And I'll let you test the serum on me."

"Josie, you don't have to say yes if you don't really want to." Howard replied understandingly. "I would never force you to do something like that and I'm sorry for pushing you."

"Howard, I want to do this," Josephine assured. "I promise. I'm not saying yes out of fear of upsetting you. I'm saying yes because this will help further science and I want to help in any way I can."

Howard glanced at Peggy, who just nodded silently. "You're positive?" he asked Josephine.

"I'm positive, Howard." Josephine assured.

Howard nodded and a smile spread across his face. "Great. Excellent!" he replied. "We'll set the procedure twenty-four hours from now. Make sure you don't consume any liquids between now and then."

Josephine smiled at Howard and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow, Howard."

~/~\~

The next day, Josephine met Peggy and Howard at the lab. Josephine shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she looked around at the scientists bustling around the lab.

"You alright, Josie?" Howard asked as he walked up to her.

"Huh?" she asked as she was pulled from her thoughts.

"I asked if you were alright," Howard repeated. "You're lookin' a little green."

"I'm just nervous," Josephine admitted. "I just hope this works, Howard."

"You and me both, doll." Howard replied. "Not to make you more nervous, but you'll have to, uh, strip down to your… unmentionables," he explained. "Before you get in the chamber."

Josephine sighed heavily. "Of course. You're killin' me, Howie."

"I'll get everyone out of the room who doesn't need to be in here when you do," Howard promised.

Josephine glanced around the room and nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate that," she told Howard sincerely.

"Ya ready?" he asked, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Josephine looked up at her friend and nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Howard nodded. "Alright, everyone! Let's get this show on the road!" he exclaimed. "Let's give our girl some privacy and I'll let you all know when you can come back in."

Everyone except Josephine, Howard, and Peggy filed out of the room. Peggy walked over and took Josephine's hands in hers.

"Before you go in there," Peggy started. "I just want to tell you that I'm proud of you, Josephine. And Bucky and Steve would be too."

Josephine smiled softly. "Thank you, Pegs," she replied sincerely.

"Hate to cut the moment short," Howard interrupted. "But we better get started with the serum infusion."

"Mood killer," Josephine laughed as she stripped down to her skivvies and hoisted herself up onto the table.

"I know, I'm terrible." Howard joked as he hooked up various machines and tubes to her body. "Alright, serum infusion in three… two… one," he counted down as the other scientists filed back into the room.

The blue liquid started to become injected into her body and Josephine grunted. She closed her eyes as she began to feel the serum coursing through her veins.

"Alright, last chance to back out," Howard warned. "You ready, Josie?"

Josephine nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to center herself. "I'm ready."

Howard flipped the switch and the chamber enclosed around her. "Okay," he started. "We're beginning in three… two… one!"

The radiation increased slowly and the chamber whirred loudly. Inside, Josephine squeezed her eyes shut and yelled out in pain. Truly she had never felt a more physically painful experience and it almost made her want to beg to end the procedure.

"Josie?" Peggy called out worriedly, memories of when Steve went through this resurfacing. "Josie!"

Josephine let out another pained yelled. "I'm okay!" she grunted. "I'll be okay!"

Peggy swallowed nervously and glanced over at Howard, worry bubbling up inside of her. Howard just looked back at her and nodded, silently assuring her that Josephine would tell them to stop if need be.

"Almost at one hundred percent…" Howard noted after the chamber's whirring increased.

Josephine let out a gut-wrenching scream as the chamber reached its full power. Both Howard and Peggy winced and looked at each other worriedly. Inside the chamber, Josephine silently prayed that it would be over soon.

"Almost done, Josie!" Howard called out. "C'mon… c'mon…" he muttered to himself.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the machine finally went silent. Both Howard and Peggy rushed toward the chamber and watched in anticipation as it opened slowly. Josephine opened her eyes and blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light.

Peggy and Howard helped Josephine out of the chamber and she stood to her full height. Her height had increased, but not in an extreme way. Where she once stood at 5'3", she now stood at 5'9" and had more muscle definition.

Peggy looked over her friend concernedly. "How're you feeling?"

"Taller," Josephine breathed out, earning a chuckle from Howard and a relieved sigh from Peggy.

Peggy pulled her friend into a tight hug and Josephine immediately returned the embrace. "Thank God, I am so glad that you're okay," she murmured.

"Felt a little touch and go there," Josephine admitted as she pulled away. "But I wanted to push through. I needed to."

Peggy let out a little scoff. "And you said Steve would willingly go through pain to help others."

"Well, James always did say that both Steve and I got ourselves into trouble," Josephine chuckled. "I just sort of… neglected to tell you that part."

Peggy rolled her eyes fondly at her friend. She was just happy that Josephine was okay and that it seemed like the serum had taken well to her.

"We're going to have to run your vitals and monitor you," Howard started. "But it looks like it went according to plan."

Josephine nodded and she and Peggy followed Howard. Amongst the other scientists, Arnim Zola pursed his lips and slipped out of the room unnoticed. The news of a new super soldier would help immensely in the rebuilding of HYDRA.