AN: Jessica's outfit is up top.

✧

Jessica Rogers sighed as she tucked the last strand of hair into her braid, red hair hanging down her chest to her waist.

She looked to Steve when he leaned over her, looking into the mirror to meet her eyes. A smile appeared on her red stained lips, eyes darkened by the black linger atop her lid.

"This is new," Steve noticed, hands on her shoulders.

Jessica nodded, scrunching her nose, "I did it several times in the 40's, Steve."

"Twice," Steve corrected, Jessica softening at the fact that he knew exactly how many times she had done her makeup like this, "I'm just saying, it's new."

"Do you like it?" Jessica smirked, turning on the chair and looking up to meet Steve's eyes.

Steve bent down to her height, resting on the balls of his feet as he said, "I do. You look beautiful."

"You're only saying that because we had sex last night," Jessica winked, moving to cup his jaw.

Steve's cheeks flushed and a light smirk lifted his lips when saying, "Three times, actually."

"Oh," Jessica taunted, a false look of shock on her face, "You counted, did you?"

"I think I would remember something as good as that," Steve explained, chuckling when Jessica let out a snort.

The man stood straight and put out a hand, Jessica taking it and letting her husband pull her from her chair. He pulled her into his chest, Jessica letting out a noise of surprise as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Steve pressed his lips onto Jessica's, the woman's eyes fluttering after a moment and moving her mouth against his. Jessica laughed against Steve as he bent her over his arm, dipping her and making her leg be raised into the air.

The man smiled as she threw her head back in laughter, kissing her throat several times as he chuckled. He pulled them up and Jessica's hands landed on his chest, eyes on his as her laughter decreased.

"Well, Mr. Rogers," Her voice was now calm, fingers playing with the top button to his grey dress shirt, "You are very smooth to get a woman into bed, now, aren't you?"

"What can I say?" Steve played along, fixing his collar as a hint of sarcasm was laced in his voice, "I'm a real ladies man."

Jessica smirked, "With that ass you are."

Steve rolled his eyes and Jessica snorted, turning slightly to put her wedding ring back on her finger, as she had taken it off before putting her lotion on. The man watched as she turned around eyes on her back, causing Jessica to stop when she met his eyes once more.

"What?"

Steve grabbed her hand and rose her arm in the air, lightly spinning her making her laugh as he said, "Well, well. Look at you, Mrs. Rogers."

"Does it look okay?" Jessica's voice wavered, skepticism on her appearance now changing, "I tied the shirt like Cali showed me. Sylvi chose the skirt and Chess liked the belt and shoes."

Steve gave her a smile, bringing his hand to her lips, "I love it. You look very beautiful, Brooklyn baby."

"Mission accomplished, then," She chuckled, turning back to the vanity to grab her purse that held her various items now needed, including a temporary identification she was being made to have, "I thought you would like it."

"And why is that?"

Jessica smirked, "The skirt makes my ass look good. Don't think I didn't see your wavering eyes."

"You caught me," Steve rolled his eyes, suppressing a blush.

Jessica chuckled before turning on her foot, walking to the door and leaving her hand on the knob as she looked over her shoulder, "I'm going to go to the nursing home to visit Lydia. I texted Claudia and Victoria and they will be here in ten minutes. After, I will come back here and hang out."

"Please be safe?" Steve walked over to her, hand going to her cheek.

Jessica smiled, nodding a bit as she leaned up on her toes to kiss him lightly.

"I will be. I love you."

"I love you."

An hour later, Jessica was sitting beside Lydia, their hands laced as they watched a black and white television show. Claudia and Victoria, the woman's daughter, were on the chairs beside them, doing the same.

The comedic laugher filled the room, Jessica turning to her twin when a raspy chuckle escaped her lips.

"Jessica would have loved this," Lydia spoke to Claudia, the said woman looking to her twin and running her thumb along her now wrinkled knuckles.

"Lyds? I'm here, honey," Jessica whispered, making Lydia turn to her slowly.

Her once green eyes were aged to a now light grey, a look of recognition washing over her before she murmured, "Jess?"

"Hi," Jessica's tone was soft, afraid that she would say something to break the woman who now had white hair from age, "Hi, Lyds."

"You're back," Lydia cried, voice cracking as tears clouded her vision, "You're alive."

Jessica's heart clenched in her chest and she nodded, bringing Lydia's hand to her lips as she moved closer to her on the couch placed in the corner of the woman's room.

"I am. I'm home, with you. I'm home."

Tears streamed down her cheeks and Jessica moved to wipe them, cupping her jaw as Lydia let out a light whimper.

"I missed you," She sniffed, "How did you come back?"

"I escaped with Bucky, Lydia. I found Steve. He's alive, too. We are all here," Jessica smiled fondly.

Lydia matched her look, dull eyes brightening after a moment, "And Stiles and the twins?"

"They'll be here soon, Lydia," Claudia answered her mother, voice soft as the ache she held in her chest spasmed a bit.

Jessica met Claudia's eyes and nodded, glancing back to Lydia, "I promise they want to be here, they're just coming from a place kind of far away."

Lydia's grin was hopeful when she looked back to the television, Jessica looking back to the elder woman she once knew as a small girl. She licked her lips before spoke whispered to her sister.

"I'm going to use the bathroom, Lydia, I'll be right back."

The white-haired woman acknowledged her with a hum, Lydia standing and kissing her head softly before turning and walking to the door. She opened it and turned to Claudia, tilting her head toward the hallway.

Claudia understood the woman and stood as well, following her aunt quickly and shutting the door behind her. Jessica crossed her arms over her chest as she leaned against the wall, head tilted back toward the ceiling.

"How often is it, little duck?" She whispered, finally turning to Claudia. The woman shrugged, saying, "It's pretty often."

Jessica pursed her lips before she said, "You know, I brought back mine and Bucky's memory... I could try to do the same. Bring her back to us."

Claudia gave her aunt a smile, voice calming when saying, "Thank you, auntie, I just..."

She trailed off and Jessica reached forward and took hand softly. Jessica kissed it before she spoke.

"This is completely up to you. But, it will be painful. Your entire head feels as though it's on fire. She may be my twin, but she's your mother first. I respect your decision on this."

Claudia nodded and couldn't help but melt into her aunt's arms when Jessica wrapped them around her, eyes closing in a peaceful warmth. Jessica ran her hands up and down her back, a smile on her face as she remembered the many hugs they had shared so long ago.

The elder looking woman pulled back and held onto Jessica's arm for stability as she said, "I think momma has been through enough pain. You should have seen her when we lost Noah and daddy, auntie..."

Claudia was cut off with a small cry, tears forming in her eyes. Jessica nodded, affectionately placing a hand on her niece's cheek.

"Your mother has been though a enough, little duck. I only wanted to suggest it to you," Jessica smiled, "Just so you know that I would gladly help you."

"Thank you, aunt Jess. But, I can't put her through any more pain."

Jessica wrinkled her nose at her niece and said, "I know, I don't want want her hurt anymore either. But seeing her not remember you, little duck... I saw how it hurt you."

"I've dealt with it for ten years now," Claudia whispered, shaking her head a bit, "It doesn't get easier, but she's not in pain, so, I can't be mad. She just thinks I'm a friend that comes around to spend time with her and the other patients."

Jessica was quiet for a moment before saying, "You're a good daughter, you know that, little duck? I remember you hugging me and kissing my cheek when I would come visit you, your little hands always had to wrap around my neck. Your sass was just like your father."

The pair laughed and Claudia leaned against the wall beside Jessica, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Daddy was always so neurotic, if he had been born now they would have diagnosed him with ADHD."

Jessica hummed and Claudia turned to her, saying, "Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder."

"Ah, I see," Jessica chuckled, "I don't know the textbook definition, but it sounds like something we called something else with a name I loathed and found rude."

Claudia nodded and said, "I'm pretty sure Noah had it, too. He and dad were always so alike."

"I miss him," Jessica looked to her heels, arms shifting uncomfortably on her chest, "Both of them. Your dad got me through the worst thing in my life."

"I remember that day," Claudia whispered, brows furrowed in thought, "You coming home from the hospital afterwards... it was the first time I saw true pain."

Guilt hit Jessica and she murmured, "I'm sorry you had to see it."

"All I remember is being at the market with momma and the look of fear on her face. She turned white and fell to the ground," Claudia recounted, Jessica listening closely, as she had never heard Lydia's side of the story.

Claudia continued, "She screamed in a way that was gut-wrenching. I remember her trying to cover her mouth as people walked by the near aisle. My head hurt so had from it, but somehow I knew something had happened to you. It was a feeling."

"You're a banshee, too," Jessica lightly grinned, stomach churning at the thought of her loss once more, "I was the first time you felt it?"

"The first time I can remember. Momma said says that I was acting weird when uncle Steve went under the ice, but I can't recall."

Jessica hummed, fingers lightly running up and down her stomach, "I'm sorry I did that to you."

"Don't be," Claudia shook her head, hand gripping onto her cane beside her, "I'm sorry."

Jessica licked her lips and looked forward, eyes trailing along the soft markings on the wallpaper. She was quiet for a moment before she spoke in a hushed voice, afraid if she used her voice fully it would break.

"You know how they say everything happens for a reason?"

Claudia nodded and Jessica continued, "I can't figure out why I lost the baby. What lesson was from that pain? I know it's been almost seventy years... but to me it feels fresh still. I was taken only a week later, experimented on and tortured. What was the reason for any of it? What good happened?"

The salt-and-pepper haired woman let out a long breath, closed-mouthed for a short moment.

"I think that sometimes things happen just because. Others for a reason, some not. It just depends on your take on it. You may think there isn't a reason now, but one day, in the future, you look back and realize what that moment was for. Pain into strength, loss into resilience. It all depends on how you define it or let it define you."

The pair looked to one another and Jessica nodded, chest feeling a bit lighter at the thought of the future.

"You're too smart for your own good, little duck," Jessica's tone changed the conversation, making Claudia chuckle.

"I had to be, I was stuck with erratic Stiles Stilinski was a father."

✧

Later that day, Jessica sat on the couch of the Avenger's tower alone, legs crossed over one another as piles of small boxes were beside her.

Claudia had taken Jessica to her house after their visit with Lydia, having lunch with her and her daughter, Victoria, who had introduced them to her husband Ralph before leaving. The woman had all of Jessica's boxes she had packed pre-war, Lydia having kept them all in the basement of her home.

Jessica was taken from her thoughts when someone sat down beside her, the redhead turning to see Tony with his arm behind her shoulders. She gave him a small chuckle and smile.

"Well, hello, Mr. Stark."

"Please, Poison Ivy, call me Tony," He winked, earning a shake of the head from the woman beside him.

She gave him a raised brow, "Poison Ivy? Like the plant?"

"We are going to have to have catch you up on the pop-culture references. It's just wrong you don't know who that is."

Jessica wrinkled her nose and said, "Sure, if you want, we can do that."

Tony gave her an encouraged nod and looked to the boxes on the table and floor, "So, spring cleaning?"

"Oh," Jessica looked back to them, picking up a large rose quartz crystal from the box in her lap, "Yeah, my niece let me go through my old things Lydia kept. Pre-war memorabilia. Probably would sell for a lot given that I have a few of Steve's old drawings he gave me in secondary school."

The Stark man put a hand out and Jessica handed him the crystal, watching as the man looked at it and hummed.

"So, you collect fancy magical rocks."

Jessica rolled her eyes playfully, snatching it from his hands, "You know, I know you don't like it, but you remind me of someone."

"Yeah, well, that someone never stopped talking about you and captain perfect," Tony scoffed, shaking his head from behind his purple glasses, "Always going on and on."

Jessica noted the tone of his voice and shifted to put her legs behind her, elbow rested on the top of the couch to face him.

"I'm sorry that you and your father didn't get along too often," Jessica sighed, "And that Steve and I may have had something to do with it."

"Just 'ole Pop's, not on you, though he was right about your beauty."

Jessica shook her head against her palm, chin resting on it, "You are awful, you know that? I'm a married woman and from what I have seen, you're with a blonde that puts up with your shit, right?"

"The playboy doesn't just go away," Tony joked, "It takes practice to become level-headed."

The two laughed and Jessica said, "I really appreciate you letting us stay here, I hope you know, Tony. I know me being here is putting some... unwanted attention on you guys and, what Steve called, media. It means a lot that you trust me even if you don't know me and I just got my memory back."

"I know what media is like, things are spun for publicity. Once the world sees you again as one of us, it'll be smooth sailing to paradise," He told, shrugging.

Jessica nodded, letting out a sigh, "Yeah, I just hope it's soon. I know Steve is really under a lot of stress having to work on my pardon."

"Capsicle is always stressed, it's his nature."

The redhead laughed and said, "Yeah, that is true. He takes everything so personally. Always has."

A ding of the elevator interrupted the pair and Jessica turned to look over her shoulder, a smile coming to her lips when she saw Layla and Lennon run in with a frantic Calista.

"Hey, Cal," Jessica grinned as Lennon ran to sit on her lap, Layla moving to sit between her and Tony, "What's up?"

"My gallery is opening up in an hour and a half and my babysitter just canceled and my dad is busy," Cali's green eyes were panicked as she spoke to everyone through their minds, "What the hell am I going to do?"

Tony wrapped his hands around Layla's ears, faking offense, "Blondie, there are children present."

"Oh, mommy said something worse in the car," Layla shook Tony off her with a movement of her pigtails, "Someone moved in front of us while we watched Elsa in the car and mom called them a motherf-"

Lennon cut his sister off, saying, "Layla! That's a bad word, only mommy gets to say it."

"God, I'm going to get worst mother of the year," Cali put her head in her hands before signing, "Carpets and cameras are already there."

Tony smirked, "I called saying Iron Man would be there, you're welcome."

"Yeah, well, now no one will be there."

Jessica gave her a confused look and said, "Why not? I'll watch them."

"You would do that?" Cali almost screeched, "I would owe you."

Jessica chuckled as Lennon pulled on her braid, bouncing on her lap as the twins squealed. They already loved her.

"Yeah, I'll hang out with the little ducks and and we will watch a movie or go to the park. We'll be fine, you just go do what you have to do."

Cali rushed over to Jessica and practically squished Lennon against the woman, the boy grunting as his mother crushed him.

"Thank you," Cali pulled back, "I would kiss you if you weren't married."

Tony scoffed, "What about me? No kiss for the me?"

"Pepper, Tony. Pepper."

He hummed as though he remembered and the women shook their heads, Jessica moving to stand all while holding Lennon on her hip. She fixed a stray hair of Cali's long hair and straightened her suit coat.

"You get there, they are going to need you," She turned to Tony, "And you, go on. If you're going to go to support, go now."

Tony groaned before standing, "You sound like my mother."

"Yeah, well, I'm old enough to be your mother, so, get."

Tony walked backwards as his brows moved up and down, "Feisty. Redheads are always so much fun."

The man quickly escaped down the hall and Jessica turned back to Cali, who said, "Are you sure, jaybird?"

"I'm positive. These guys and I are going to have so much fun," Jessica bounced Lennon on her hip, making him giggle, "I'll cook them dinner, we'll watch movies. I'll even see if we can make a desert or something."

"Cake!" Layla jumped up on the couch, "Strawberry cake!"

Jessica chuckled and gave Cali a warm smile, "I got this. They're safe with me."

Cali copied her look and said, "Thank you, I'll be back late. I'm sorry."

"I have nowhere to be," Jessica chuckled, "Steve will be home soon and we will all hang out here. We will be perfectly fine."

The blonde woman nodded and looked to Lennon, kissing his forehead, "Okay, I love you."

She moved to kiss Layla's head, wrapping her arms around the trio, "I love you. Be good for auntie Jess, please."

"Yes, mommy."

Cali gave them one last hug and kiss before leaving, Jessica and the kids waving to her as the elevator doors shut once more. The redhead looked to the kids, who were already looking to her and smiled.

"Well, little ducks, what would you like to do?"

She sat back down on the couch and Lennon moved to her lap, Layla immediately cuddling into her side and saying, "Can we watch Ariel? I want to show you."

"Is that okay, Lenny?" Jessica questioned, earning a nod as Lennon spoke with a wisp, "I like Ariel. She has a pretty voice."

Jessica wrinkled her nose as she teased him, "Does Lenny have a crush?"

"No!" Lennon shook his head, face turning as red as Jessica's hair.

The woman chuckled and said, "It's okay if you did, there's nothing wrong with that."

"Lenny has a crush on you," Layla told, making the boy whine, "La!"

"What? You do!"

"No!"

Jessica lightly tickled the two, "Okay, little ducks, that's enough. No more teasing or no cake."

The two began to protest and Jessica chuckled, moving Lennon off her lap before saying, "Why don't I move all this and then we can lay down and watch Ariel?"

"We can help!" Layla jumped off the couch, "We are strong."

"Oh, are you?"

Lennon nodded, putting his arms in the air to show his muscles, "Look! Just like uncle Steve!"

Jessica felt his arm and gasped in awe in exaggeration, "Oh, my goodness! Would you look at that! Just like uncle Steve."

The small boy blushed and Layla laughed at her brother as he stuck his tongue out at her. Jessica rolled her eyes playfully and found a light box for each of them, knowing they wouldn't stop complaining if they didn't get to help.

After several trips back and forth to her and Steve's room and the living room, the trio finished.

Lenny tugged on Jessica's skirt and said, "Can I have some water, auntie? I'm thirsty."

"Of course, little duck. You guys are such good helpers."

Jessica walked the kids to the kitchen and lifted them onto the island with a giggle, finding their smaller cups that Cali left in the cabinet. She quickly gave them their drinks and watched as they sipped on them loudly, pulling back with an obnoxious smack of their lips.

She smiled and wiped their mouths with her thumb, saying, "Did you guys want to watch the movie and then make dinner with me?"

"Yes!"

Two hours and many songs later, the movie had ended, the twins were sitting back on the counter as Jessica began making them dinner.

"Auntie Jess?" Lennon licked his lips, strawberry juice dripping down his chin, "How do you know how to make mac n' cheese?"

Jessica chuckled and picked up the empty cardboard box, saying, "Well, this right here has a recipe. Plus Kraft macaroni and cheese was created in 1937, little duck."

"Yeah, come on, Lenny," Layla stuck her tongue out mockingly, "Since 1937."

Lennon pouted and Jessica wrinkled her nose at him, running two fingers down his jaw as she whispered, "It's okay, Lenny. Most people don't know that."

She winked at him and Lennon blushed, looking back at the bowl of cut strawberries that sat between him and his older twin. Jessica stirred the noodles in the boiling water as the elevator rang, causing the trio's heads to turn to see Steve Rogers walking into the room.

Jessica gave him a bright smile, her matte red lips turning upward toward her ears. The twin's exclaims of joy made the man chuckle, eyes finally drifting to them as he reached them.

"Hi, uncle Steve!" Layla yelled, blue eyes wide, "We are making macaroni and cheese!"

"Well, that sounds good, doesn't it?" Steve chuckled, ruffling the twin's hair making them giggle.

Lenny shook his head, a humorous sigh escaping his lips, "Auntie Jess is making you guys something else."

"Oh?" Steve turned to Jessica, who had wrapped her arm around his waist, her other hand still stirring the noodles.

Jessica met his blue eyes and wrinkled her nose, "There was a few steaks in the fridge, so, I figured you and Bruce might like them. They're in the oven along with some rosemary and lemon pepper seasoned green beans."

"Lemon pepper, huh?" Steve teased, raising a brow.

Jessica rolled her eyes, putting the wooden spoon to the side and turning off the heat as she picked up the scalding pot by the handle, "Well, it smelled good and I improvised."

Steve and the twins watched as Jessica quickly strained the noodles, shaking out the water before adding it back in. Lennon licked his lips as Jessica added the milk and butter, tilting his head when he watched her grind a bit of pepper in it.

"Will that make it spicy, auntie?" He questioned, making Jessica shake her head and smile, "No, little duck, I wouldn't make it too spicy for you. Only a little bit to add flavor."

Steve reached into the cabinets and procured two bowls for the twins, taking the pot from Jessica's hands with a wink. He scooped in their dinner as Jessica grabbed the cups they had used earlier, pouring in a bit of apple juice before adding a small amount of water to dilute the sweet drink.

She grabbed the children's forks Cali had left their and made her way to the table, setting everything down before going back to her husband and the twins. Jessica held onto Lennon and Layla, each of the blonde children on her hips making them giggle.

Steve walked with them, holding their food and setting it down when Jessica let them jump down from her hold. They quickly settled into their seats and smiled, looking up to the redhead.

"Thank you, auntie," Lennon's voice wisped through his teeth. Layla nodded, "Thanks."

Jessica winked at them before turning back around and grabbing the cut up strawberries she had given them earlier, placing it on the table between them once more.

"Now, if you finish those, I may be able to talk uncle Steve into helping us make that cake later."

The kids screamed with their mouths full, making the married couple laugh before turning to one another.

"You really wanna give them more sugar?" Steve questioned. Jessica shrugged, "I'm the fun aunt, of course I do. Plus I'm sure all the singing wore them out earlier."

Steve shook his head as he chuckled, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her forehead, "Hello, Brooklyn baby."

"Hi, hero," Jessica stood on her toes, draping her arms over Steve's shoulders, "How was your day?"

"Well," Steve smiled, "I got you to be pardoned."

Jessica's eyes widened and a relieved breath escaped her lips, a small laugh escaping her, "Oh, my gods!"

Steve snickered and brought her closer to him, the woman practically hanging off his neck as she said, "I'm so relieved, Steve. Oh, god. I thought they would never help me after what I did."

"They recognize that you were trapped, you don't have to worry anymore," Steve told as they pulled back, hands staying on one another, "I promise. You're safe now. With me."

Jessica nodded brightly, leaning in and kissing the man lightly as she ran her fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck.

Steve kissed her softly once more before placing his forehead on hers and whispering, "I love you."

"I love you," Jessica murmured, eyes closed, "Thank you."

"Thank you for being you."

Jessica went to answer, but stopped, Steve's stomach growling loudly making her laugh as a blush creeped up his neck.

"Hungry?"

Steve nodded, kissing her cheek and whispering for only her to hear, "For other things, too."

Jessica smacked his chest and rolled her eyes playfully as her voice was low, "What happened to that pure boy who didn't even want to sit on the same bed to keep my virtue intact?"

"He got a taste of something good," Steve shrugged, earing another shove making him laugh.

Jessica shook her head as a small blush ran over her nose and cheeks, making her say, "Go get Bruce and Sylvi. They're in the labs, she's been trying to get him out for thirty minutes."

Steve smiled and gave her a salute before turning on his heels, causing Jessica to turn to the twins, who were happily eating.

"Is it okay, guys?"

"I love it!" Layla giggled, an unnatural orange around her lips.

Jessica shook her head with a humorous chuckle, moving to put the butter and milk away she had used. She then grabbed several things to make her and Sylvi's dinner, knowing that the woman didn't eat most meat, like herself.

She quickly chopped everything for their salads, having remembered the blonde goddess saying it was one of her favorite things, given the right ingredients.

When Steve approached the kitchen after a few minutes, Jessica was spooning melted butter on the steaks that were still in the oven, heat hitting her face. He watched as she pushed the metal rack back in with a oven mitt on her hand, using it to grab the now roasted vegetables.

She smiled to herself as she set them on the heat-protected counter, grabbing the tongs to toss them. Steve laughed as she grabbed one with her fingers, wincing from the heat before putting it in her mouth.

"You know, usually people wait till it's not hot."

Jessica shook her head, swallowing her food as she said, "What's the fun in that, hero?"

She grabbed another and gave Steve a look, making him immediately open his mouth and take the food. His eyes widened as he chewed quickly, giving her nod.

"That's really good," He shook his head, "Damn."

"Language!" Layla exclaimed, making Jessica laugh. She looked to the kids, saying, "Did you guys want to try?"

The pair nodded and she took a few with the tongs to a nearby plate, cutting them into smaller bites before she brought them to the twins. The blonde children hummed and looked back to her, speaking with their mouth's full.

"That's good, auntie," Lennon blushed, "You're such a good cooker."

Jessica wrinkled her nose as she leaned down and kissed his head, saying, "Well, thank you, Lenny. It's always something that I've loved."

Footsteps took Jessica from the twins, looking up to see Bruce and Sylvi hand and hand. She gave them a smile and made her way back into the kitchen.

The timer on the oven went off and Jessica quickly turned it off, taking the dish out making the room smell. Steve hummed and grabbed plates and silverware, helping Jessica plate their food.

"I hope you guys like it," Jessica turned a bit pink, grabbing Bruce and Sylvi's plates and putting them on the table.

"I'm sure we will," Sylvi smiled, moving to sit beside Lennon, making him blush at the sight of her.

Bruce stammered a bit, "Do you need any help, Jess?"

"Oh, no," Jessica hummed, giving him a light grin, "Go ahead and sit, Bruce. Did you want a drink?"

"Um, sure," He blushed, sitting beside Sylvi, "Thank you for everything. You didn't have to do this. I didn't expect you to make dinner for me."

Jessica smirked, saying, "Is that your polite way to say thank you without making me feel like a house wife?"

"Maybe?"

Sylvi rolled her eyes with a laugh, "Bruce, a woman can enjoy cooking for a family or whoever without feeling like she's a housewife."

"It may be silly, and as pro women I am, it's even weirder coming out of me. But I get a sense of pride being able to cook for people, especially Steve and have him like it. I wasn't taught how to cook from my mother, I had to learn. So, call me old-fashioned, but I think it's nice to have someone enjoy your cooking."

Sylvi gave her friend a smile, "I think that's really sweet, Jess. And no, it's not anti-woman to like to cook for your family. Feminism is about to embracing and building other women up. If that's what you like to do? Go for it."

"Thank you, Sylvi. You're sweet," Jessica winked at her.

Jessica turned and grabbed drinks to put on the table along with a bottle opener as Steve walked beside her, setting their plates down. They joined the four at the table, Jessica opening the bottles of lemonade Tony had gotten for her.

The adults at the table began eating and Bruce hummed, covering his mouth as he said, "Oh, god. No offense, but most food from the forties was bland... this is amazing."

"Jess hates bland food," Steve chuckled from the head of the table, lacing his hand with Jessica's, who was to the left of him, "She was who we went to for food that actually tasted good."

Jessica shrugged, "It helps working with herbs and spices. They have more meaning then just to taste good."

"Rosemary?" Sylvi questioned, scooping another bite of green bean into her mouth.

Jessica hummed, saying, "Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. Rosemary is also considered a cognitive stimulant and can help improve memory performance and quality. It is also known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus."

"Why don't you stop by the lab tomorrow, Jessica?" Bruce questioned, grinning at her, "We could test your IQ, if you'd like? Either way, I want to show you around. I know you haven't been down their yet."

"Sure," Jessica nodded, "Sounds like fun."

Two hours later, Bruce, Sylvi, Jessica and Steve were laying on the couch with the twins, all watching another Disney movie.

"Wait, so how did mother Gothel know the song to even sing to the magic flower?" Bruce questioned, eyes not leaving the television, as it was the climax of the movie.

Sylvi rolled her eyes, "It's a Disney movie. How does anyone know anything?"

He shoveled another handful of popcorn into his mouth, "I just think it's a little ludacris given the fact that no one else knew this flower was real and somehow she knew the exact words?"

"You just gotta give up logic here, man," Steve shook his head, arm over Jessica's shoulders as the twins laid in their laps, "It's a good movie."

"I like Flynn," Jessica pouted, "His life is really sad."

Sylvi looked to her, "What do you mean?"

"Well, by the 18th century, fitz- referred almost exclusively to illegitimate sons of the gentry. Eugene's name literally means "Lord Herbert's illegitimate son Eugene,"" Jessica explained, "Which makes sense if he grew up in an orphanage like he said earlier."

"This is depressing," Bruce shook his head, making Layla pout and say, "Guys, they're going to kiss soon! It's good!"

The four watched intently and all gasped when the man was stabbed, making Bruce say, "What kind of movie is this!"

"She's going to heal him," Lennon explained, "Like auntie Jess."

Jessica looked to him and gave him a confused look, making him say, "Mommy explained that you can heal people like Rapunzel."

"I think if anyone is Rapunzel, it's your mom," Sylvi snickered, "Between the blonde hair and bright green eyes? And the painting? It's cannon at this point."

"Mommy is Rapunzel, but she doesn't like being called that."

Jessica ran a hand through her hair, "But she literally has light and sun powers?"

"Ironic, isn't it?"

✧

AN: I'm sorry for the wait of this update, I've had some personal things going on. I'm okay, though <3