OKAY! NEXT CHAPTER WE'LL BE GETTING INTO THE ACTUAL FILM!!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED! :'D It's taken a while, BUT!!!! WE'RE ALMOST THERE GUYS LETS GOOOOOOOO!!
Lorelei was awake long before the sun had risen, her body giving no opportunity for more rest, due to her years of experience in her profession.
The crew would wake at 'five' each morning, as space didn't have a day or night, or a sense of time at all.
Thanks to that, the crew relied on an internal alarm system each 'morning.'
After many years of the routine, Lorelei would automatically wake up when her body thought it was five.
Since Lorelei was in New York, she woke up at three.
It was infuriating.
Lorelei sighed, leaning against the windowsill, taking in the scene outside.
The streets outside were quiet, the street lamps illuminating the sidewalks below.
There was the occasional person that walked by, early risers on their way to work.
Buildings loomed silently in the backdrop of twilight, their windows reflecting the colors of the changing sky above.
The darkness of night made way to the first traces of dawn, the sky casting muted colors of purple, pink and orange.
The other residents within the apartment had yet to rise from their beds, but Lorelei could hear the occasional tenants around them wake and go about their morning routine.
The world came alive outside.
Lorelei could make out the multitude of people that spilled out of their homes as they started their day.
The stars, once bright in the night sky faded into the background as the first light of morning creeped over the horizon.
Lorelei heard the two men stirring in their rooms and decided to join the world.
Changed into the clothes she had worn the day before, Lorelei stepped out of the bedroom and into the hallway.
She could hear Steve and Bucky talking softly, obviously trying not to wake Lorelei from her sleep.
Lorelei smiled, walking out further into the living room, spotting Steve and Bucky in the kitchen.
"Morning."
"Mornin'." Bucky replied, raising his hand in greeting.
Steve murmured his greeting as Lorelei crossed over to the kitchen.
"Need any help?" Lorelei asked.
"We've got this, thanks." Steve said.
Lorelei looked to Bucky, who nodded in agreement.
"Suit yourselves." She took a seat at the table, setting her Holo-pad up as she pulled up the files she had been working on.
NAISC's footage of the portal still puzzled Lorelei as much as it traumatized her.
Why did only she get transported? It was too coincidental to be a spontaneous portal. The knowledge that she also had ties to this universe through Steve threw her for a loop.
"Multiversal Soulmate Link?"
Lorelei jumped in her seat, Steve giving her a guilty grin.
Bucky looked up, curiosity fueling his interest.
"It's a theory," Lorelei's gaze went to her Mark, then to Steve, "already proven by our Link."
Steve nodded.
"What's to say there couldn't be other intermultiversal Soulmate Links? We can't be a fluke. The question is, how do intermultiversal Soulmate Links work?" Lorelei swiped through files, expanding the image of the portal closing in front of Lorelei in the video, "everything points to this."
She jabbed her finger into the hologram.
She pressed play, slowing the video down to show the strange behavior of the portal.
The portal behaved closest to smoke, with a glow that emitted from within to cast beams similar to the sun shining through underwater.
The portal shifted and changed, never remaining one shape.
"I've been running through the mathematics and none of the equations create anything similar to it." Lorelei said, "it's almost like it doesn't follow the laws of physics!"
"Well, it might be best to push the problem aside for another time, Doll." Bucky said, placing the food on the table, "breakfast is ready."
Lorelei gave him a deadpan stare.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me Doll?"
"A few times, Dollface." His grin was teasing.
"Then how about you stop, Bucket?" Lorelei's response cracked across the table like a whip.
Steve snorted, choking on the glass of water.
"Hey now, that's not even close to my name!"
Bucky exclaimed.
"Sorry about that, Buckaroo."
"Buckaroo? Really?" Steve asked, his coughing fit subsiding.
"Seemed fitting." Lorelei said, lashes fluttering innocently.
Her eyes twinkled with mirth, the light catching her gaze like faceted emerald gems.
Resigning to his fate, Bucky glared at Lorelei, "fine, call me whatever you want, doll. Just pass the pancakes."
"Sure thing, Buckwheat." Lorelei handed the plate over to Steve, who passed it to Bucky.
Grumbling, Bucky took his pancakes, shooting sullen eyes Lorelei's way.
The trio fell silent as they ate, but it wasn't long before Bucky spoke again.
With a sly grin, Bucky looked at Steve.
"Did you ask her?"
"Sorry?" Steve asked before realizing, "oh, yes I did."
"Honestly, I'm shocked he asked you out all! He-"
"Buck, that's enough." Steve's voice was strained.
Lorelei interjected in an attempt to distract Bucky from his teasing. "So, about the Expo, what's the special occasion?"
The two became quiet, looking at each other.
"Bucky enlisted." Steve said, "the Expo is the last hurrah."
"Sergeant Barnes, at your service." Bucky grinned, lazily leaning back in his chair.
"We'll, congratulations." Lorelei said, shoving her feelings to the side.
Bucky looked at his watch, standing and carrying his plate over to the sink.
"We should head out, it's almost time for work." Bucky said.
The other two helped tidy up, quickly setting about the task before stepping out into the crisp morning air.
"See ya around, Doll."
"See you around Bucky Bear."
Bucky sighed, gaze turning heavenward.
Steve chuckled beside Lorelei as Bucky beat a hasty retreat.
"Well, I should be off, I gotta go home and change before going to work." Lorelei said.
Steve nodded, looking crestfallen.
"I'll see you around?" She asked.
"I'll see you around." Steve agreed, a smile appearing on his face.
Lorelei took off, turning around after a distance, seeing Steve watch her.
She waved, receiving one in return.
She turned back around, bolting towards her apartment.
She arrived at Linda's Flower Shop just as Dolly flipped the Closed sign around to Open.
Dolly watched the overly cheerful woman as she floated past.
"I'm guessing you have good news?" Dolly asked.
"Hell yeah!" Lorelei exclaimed, whirling to face Dolly.
"Language, Lori!" Dolly hissed.
Lorelei grinned apologetically.
"Now, with proper manners: spill!" Dolly said eagerly.
So Lorelei did. She told her everything, except for the whole timeline fiasco thing, obviously.
Dolly was overjoyed to know that things were progressing well for Lorelei.
"I want an invitation to your wedding." Dolly demanded.
Lorelei paused, shocked. She hadn't thought about marriage at all.
She knew that Steve was a traditional man, and would want a wedding- as would she, but…
It felt wrong. Like she was stealing him from Peggy.
There was also the issue of her knowledge. A relationship was based on being truthful and honest with the significant other.
Lorelei knew she would be withholding information, and that could damage the relationship beyond repair.
She wondered how long before everything would come crashing down around her.
Dolly ushered her to the flowers as they received their first customer for the day.