AN: Jessica's outfit is up top. It's the same, but it's nice to see it again.

✧

Hours later, Jessica sniffed, pulling the IV catheter from Steve's arm as silent tears rolled down her blushed cheeks.

After Jessica and Steve made their way back to the laboratory, the woman broke down in tears, seeing them wheeling away Dr. Erskine's body in a black body bag . She, of course, had felt when his soul passed into the Earth, but remained sorrowful, knowing he had been taken too early.

Jessica had come to love the man like a father, confiding in him with everything during their short time together.

Losing people who she was closer to always hurt more.

She was pulled out of her thoughts as Steve grabbed her gloved hand, whispering, "Brooklyn baby... are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah," Jess nodded, placing a bandage on his arm with her other hand, "I'll be okay. Now, before I would have said that you would have bruised from the amount of blood we have taken, but now I'm not too sure."

"Think you got enough?" Steve questioned her, voice soft as he rolled down his sleeve.

Jessica nodded and silently put everything away as Peggy spoke for her across the room, "Any hope of reproducing the program is locked in your genetic code."

Jessica grabbed the IV and put it in the hazardous waste trash can before taking her gloves off and adding them in. She looked to the other nurse beside her, as she was now in charge of the program since she was second in command to Dr. Erskine.

"Can you please put these in the proper refrigerator, Rebekah? I would be forever thankful after today," Jessica gave her a smile. Rebekah nodded, saying, "Of course, Miss Jessica."

"Thank you," Jessica face her a grateful smile. She walked over to Steve and Peggy as she said, "Without Abraham it would take years."

"He deserved more than this," Steve whispered, turing to Jessica, who gave him a grim smile. Peggy nodded, saying, "If it could work only once, he'd be proud it was you."

Jessica furrowed her brows as she looked through the window to the first floor and said, "Colonel Phillips is back with Senator Brandt to talk to Howard. Let's go down."

Peggy nodded and left the room first, Steve looking to Jessica afterwards.

"Are you okay?" He whispered, reaching forward to put his hands on her shoulders. Jessica couldn't look up to him as she nodded, looking at the ground.

Steve frowned and encased his arms around her, Jessica letting out a small sob as she crashed into his chest. She couldn't help but melt around him, sadness in her veins while she wrapped her arms around his abdomen and pulled him closer.

She could hear as Steve's heart rate increased against her ear, the man running his hand up and down her spine while the other was around her waist. Jessica pulled back a bit and wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, one arm still on Steve.

"It wasn't his time, Steve. I felt his soul enter back into the Earth, but it wasn't his time," She sniffed, looking up at him. Steve grimaced, saying, "I know. I'm so sorry, Jess."

She shook her head, "It's not your fault. I just wish he hadn't gone so early. We had grown close."

Steve brought one hand up and wiped her eyes free of tears, cupping her jaw causing her to meet his blue eyes.

"I hate crying, it's ugly," She huffed, trying to smile. Steve shook his head, gulping, "I think you look beautiful even when you cry."

"You've always been the sweetest man I've ever met, Steve," Jessica admitted, a chill running down her spine as Steve's fingers played with the ends of her hair that was down her back. He simply shrugged, "You deserve to be treated like the amazing woman you are."

She chuckled breathlessly, swallowing the tears, "I'm not amazing, Steve. You deserve someone way better."

Jessica stepped out of his arms quickly and turned, walking out of the room before Steve could respond.

He sighed, smacking his hands against his thighs while he said, "I don't want anyone else."

Steve quickly followed Jessica out of the room and down the stairs, meeting her while Peggy spoke to the Senator and Colonel Phillips.

"Hydra is the Nazi deep-science division," She explained, stopping in front of the men along with Steve and Jessica, "It's led by Johann Schmidt. But he has much bigger ambitions."

Phillips nodded, saying, "Hydra is practically a cult. They worship Schmidt. They think he's invincible."

"So what are you going to do about it?" The Senator questioned him, brow raised.

Jessica tilted her head at him, Steve noticing this and grabbed her hand, keeping her from saying something.

She briefly met his eyes before Colonel Phillips said, "I spoke to the President this morning," They began walking, "As of today, the SSR is being retasked."

"Colonel?" Peggy and Jessica asked, eyes wide. He nodded at the trio before saying, "We are taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags, Agent Carter and Miss Martin," He turned to Howard, "You too, Stark. We're flying to London tonight."

"Wait," Jessica's heart stopped, the idea of leaving Steve alone causing a wave of nausea to wash over her. Steve was quick to add, "Sir? If you're going after Schmidt, I want in."

He shook his head, "You're an experiment-"

He was cut off my Jessica growling, her eyes flashing a bright illuminated green as she said, "Watch what you say, Colonel. I can get very angry and I'm sure you don't want that."

Colonel Phillips nodded prudently before saying, "You're going to Alamogordo."

"The serum worked," Steve pointed out. Colonel Phillips shrugged, "I asked for an army and all I got was you. You are not enough."

"Then I'm not going," Jessica simply stated, fingers tightening around Steve's, "I'm not leaving Steve, Colonel. And as it seems I'm in charge of the Strategic Scientific Reserve since I was second in command to Doctor Erskine, I am staying with my patient to check progress."

The elder man narrowed his eyes at her and Jessica rose a brow to challenge him, making him say, "Then you will stay with Mr. Rogers and work remotely. I expect a letter every week and not a day later."

"Yes, sir," Jessica smirked, fighting off a proud smile. The Senator walked over to the pair of best friends and spoke to Steve, "With all due respect, to the Colonel, I think we may be missing the point. I've seen you in action, Steve. More importantly, the country's seen it. Paper."

One of his workers walked over to them and opened the front page of The New York Examiner, showing Steve holding a car door as a shield.

Jessica furrowed a brow, "When did you do that?"

"Before you caught up," Steve told, a red hue covering his cheeks. Jessica gave him a small smile as the Senator said, "The enlistment lines have been around the block since your picture hit the newsstands. You don't take a soldier, a symbol like that, and hide him in a lab, no offence, Miss Martin."

Jessica shook her head, waving him off with her empty hand, "None taken, Senator."

"Son, do you want to serve your country on the most important battlefield of the war?" Brandt questioned, putting a hand on Steve's shoulder and began walking them through the lab.

Jessica followed, Steve holding her hand tightly as he said, "Sir, that's all I want."

Senator Brandt put a hand out and Steve unlaced his with Jessica to shake it, "Then, congratulations. You just got promoted."   

The Senator walked away and Steve only looked at Jessica, eyes wide.

"Well, shit, Steven."

✧

Later that night, Jessica was laying in bed reading a book under the moonlight from the window above her bed when a knock was heard.

The sudden noise made her jump before she glanced at Peggy's bed, seeing the woman's eyes already open. Jessica stood beside the bed and put her book on the nightstand as she slipped her night shoes on.

She turned back to Peggy as she put her robe on and said, "I'll get it. Go back to sleep, Pegs."

"Please be careful," Peggy sat up in bed, tucking her legs to her chest. Jessica wrinkled her nose as another knock rang through the cabin, "I will. I got powers remember?"

"Badass," Peggy smirked, making Jessica gasp as she went to the door. She chuckled, "Watch your fucking language, Miss Carter."

Peggy laughed as Jessica opened the door, the said woman gasping a bit when she saw Steve standing there, shirtless in front of her. She shook her head in shock, mouth bubbling at the sight of Steve.

When Jessica was finally able to speak, her eyes widened, shutting the door behind her as she said, "Steve? What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep," He panted, chest rising up and down rapidly. Jessica blinked repeatedly, "Uh, okay? Did you try reading or a warm glass of milk? I can go to the kitchen quarters and help-"

Steve cut her off, "I need to know why you kissed me."

"Why do you think, Steven?" Jessica scoffed, "You think I just kissed you to make fun of you?"

When Steve didn't answer and Jessica reeled back, eyes flashing blue making the puddle of rain water on the porch splash Steve.

Jessica grit her teeth as she said, "I can't believe you thought I would do that to you. Am I that evil that you think I could do that?"

"Jessica, of course you aren't evil," Steve shook his wet hair, "That wasn't what I was trying to say."

"Then what were you insinuating, Steve?" Jessica crossed her arms over her chest. Steve sighed, pulling at his hair before saying, "Why would you want me?"

Jessica tilted her head to the side and scoffed, tears springing to her eyes as she whispered, "What the fuck are you even talking about, Steve? Why wouldn't I?"

"Me!" Steve yelled, causing Jessica to narrow her eyes at him, "Why would you have wanted some pathetic little scrawny kid from Brooklyn unless you knew I was going to turn into this?"

"You are dumber than a lightpost, Steven Grant Rogers if you think I only wanted you for this new body," She scoffed, "I have stood by your side for far too long for you to think that I'm not in love with you and have been since I was sixteen-fucking-years-old! Everything I have ever done is because I love you! Hell, you think I would have joined the fucking Army if it weren't for you? I wanted to be with you."

Jessica clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face, "And then I think we have a moment and that you maybe, just maybe, feel the same and then you run away from me like I'm a monster. Why would you-"

Jessica's voice was suddenly muffled by Steve's mouth on hers, tongue rubbing against her own, causing her to let out a small gasp against him. She pushed him back, Steve panting as he looked down to her.

"What the fuck?" Jessica growled, "You think you can kiss me and make it all go away? What happened to the whole "I'm going to ask a woman before I kiss her" thing? That's all shit, huh?"

"No, but would telling you that I feel the same way for you help?" Steve questioned, brows furrowed. Jessica gave him a confused look as he wrapped an arm around the waist, his other cupping her cheek, "Wait, what?"

Steve brushed a hair out of her face and tilted her head up toward him, "Jessica Lynne Martin, I have been in love with you since I was sixteen, too. I just had no idea why you would ever want me. I mean, look at you," The man was practically out of breath, "You're smart and kind, compassionate and beautiful. And me? What am I? I'm just a poor little boy who wore newspapers for shoes."

"But you're so much more than that," Jessica let a tear fall, "Steve, you're the most perfect man I've ever known. You are so selfless and kind, compassionate beyond belief. Willing to sacrifice everything you know and love for your country, hell, even me. Steve... you're my hero. Yes, you may have changed on the outside, but inside? You're still the man I fell in love with. This new body doesn't change a thing to me."

Steve let out a small cry when he said, "You love me?"

"Of course I do, you big idiot," Jessica sighed, pushing his chest a bit, "And do you love me?"

"I do," Steve gave the woman a loving look under the moonlight, bringing her closer. Jessica let out a gasp as she was directly against his chest before whispering, "Then do something about it."

Steve immediately bent Jessica back across his arm and kissed her, softly at first, but as her mouth moved against him with a swift gradation of intensity, he deepened the kiss making it to where she clung to him as though she was dizzy. The man's kiss was urgent, dire on parting her shaking lips, as he lifted her of her toes to show her that he had been in love with her for eight years.

The pair was breathless as they pulled back minutes later, sending wild tremors along Jessica's body, evoking a sensation she had never known she was capable of feeling.

Loved.

Jessica had never thought she could feel truly loved before being the way she was, but Steve had solved that feeling within five minutes with his lips on hers.

"I-I can't feel my body," Jessica's arms shook around Steve's neck, the man's thumbs pressed into her hips leaving bruises.

Steve's eyes widened as she set Jessica on the floor, her knees giving out under her causing her to fall back into him.

"Oh, Brooklyn baby. I am so sorry," Steve apologized, regret flooding his voice. Jessica couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her bruised lips, resting her arms on his chest, "Steve, no. It's wonderful. It's a good feeling."

"For you too?" Steve let out a small laugh, his blue eyes gleaming with the brightest joy Jessica had ever seen. The redheaded woman smiled larger than ever before and Steve stroked her cheek lovingly, "You're happy."

Jessica chuckled as tears gathered in her eyes again, "Yes, Steve. I am so happy."

"I love you, Jessica," Steve whispered, making a tear fall against her cheek, "So much. I have for what seems forever and I know it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard, but I want to work with you everyday because I want you."

"It took me a long time to love myself, hell I haven't even figured out how to do so fully," Jessica's chin quivered as she murmured to him softly, "With that being said, I'll work for this because I want you, too, Steve. I love you."

Steve nodded as his fingers were laced in Jessica's hair, "Please be mine, Jess. I need you to say yes. Please say yes."

"Yes."

✧

AN: They're finally together. How do we all feel?