It felt like forever since I had been in New York, it was strange, but it was nice to be back. 

"So, you've replaced the World's Fair?" I asked Howard in the car. 

"Sure, I mean, you don't miss it do you?" Howard replied. 

"I haven't been since I was a child," I said, looking out the window at all the bright lights coming from the Expo. "I remember being bored the first time I went, but as I got older, I learned to appreciate it, but eventually, I wasn't able to go anymore." 

"Just wait until you see what I have to present, I've been working on his for a long time," Howard said. 

"Hey, thank you for taking me, I really appreciate it." I turned to face him. "I can't remember the last time I went to any sort of fair or expo." 

"Don't mention it, Ellie. It's nothing, really." He smiled as the car pulled into the back parking lot of the Expo.

Howard got out of the car and opened the door for me, I stepped out and pulled the bottom of my dress down. Peggy lent me her dark blue dress and heels, it was nice of her.  We walked up behind a stage, a woman met up with us at the door to backstage. 

"Ah, Mr. Stark, you're here." She smiled. "We're starting in an hour, is there anything you'd like to go over?" 

We stepped backstage, where there were five women dressed in a tuxedo jacket, top hats, and mini skirts, they were doing their makeup at some mirrors. 

"Well, do the ladies know what they're doing?" Howard asked.

"I believe so." The woman nodded. 

"We'll go over everything once, see how it is." Said Howard. "Ellie, if you'd like to take a look around the Expo, you are welcome to, just report back here in 45 minutes, unless you don't want to go alone."

"No, I'll be fine, I'm going to walk around a bit, then I'll be back," I replied. 

"Okay, be safe and have fun." Howard smiled and I exited the stage and made my way to the center of the convention.

The entire place was lit up with bright lights, displays were on either side of me as I walked. There were children running and pulling their parents along, switching from each booth to the next. Two girls met up with a man dressed in an army uniform, behind him was a smaller man.  

"Ellie, are you enjoying yourself?" I turned to see Dr. Erskine. 

"Oh, quite, these projects that people have worked on are genius. Howard is preparing for his show." I replied. 

"I've been lurking around ze army recruits, haven't really found anyone yet." Dr. Erskine replied.  

"Well, good luck to you." I nodded to him before he walked back into the crowd. 

I walked around a bit longer, got a free button that said "The Future is Now!" And then walked back to the stage.

"Oh good, Ellie, you're just in time. Nice button" Howard looked and smiled. "We're on in five minutes, would you like to stand in the audience?" 

"No thank you, I'm good watching from the side," I said. 

"Alright, whatever works for you." Howard nodded.  

The women in costumes walked out on stage and lined up, jazz music began playing and the lights turned on on the stage. Center stage was a red car, and I wondered what he could have possibly done. 

"Looks like you're about to start," I said. 

"Showtime." Howard put on a top hat and stood stage left.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark!" The woman standing in the middle announced and Howard walked out on stage and waved to the crowd. 

The center woman stepped forward and Howard took off his hat, handed it to her, and kissed her. She then handed him a microphone. I laughed and shook my head. 

"He's never gonna find himself a wife," I muttered to myself.

The women walked back behind the car and Howard spoke. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all." A few people in the crowd gasped and the women took the wheels off the car to reveal engines behind them. "With Stark robotic reversion technology, you'll be able to do just that." In front of Howard was a control panel, he pushed a button, then raised a lever. The engines on the car lit up, and miraculously, the car began to hover. 

"No way." I stared at the car in awe.  

Howard lifted his hand toward it and smiled at the audience. The engine lights flickered and sparked, then the car crashed to the ground, giving off a bit of smoke. After the crowd gasped, they slowly began clapping. 

"I did say a few years didn't I?" Howard smiled.

"A few years huh?" I asked once he got backstage. "How long did it take you to make that model?" 

"Long time, c'mon let's get some food," Howard replied.

Despite almost being mauled over by girls a few times, we got to a food stand and got corn dogs and fries. I had to wait a bit for the food to cool down, but I enjoyed it. After we had finished our food, Howard suggested that we look for Dr. Erskine. By the time we had gotten to the enlistment office, there were quite a few men leaving with folders. Dr. Erskine was standing outside, with a smile on his face.

"Did you find someone?" I asked. 

"Yes, I did, along vith some others." Dr. Erskine replied. "Did you enjoy yourself?" 

"Yes, I did." I smiled and looked at Howard. "Who are some of the people you enlisted?" 

"There's von." Dr. Erskine pointed and both Howard and I turned to look. 

It was the same short, skinny, blonde boy I saw with the taller, uniformed man earlier. 

"That's pretty funny, Doctor, but really, point someone out." Howard laughed and we looked at Erskine again, but the look on his face was serious. Both of us looked back again.

"Don't you think he's a bit small, Doctor?" Howard asked.  

"Howard, I'm a girl and I've been recruited," I said.

"Yes, but you're in great physical shape, have special abilities and you are probably taller than him," Howard argued. 

"He's 5'4" and Ellie is 5'0"." Said Erskine. 

"Point proven, Howard," I said. 

"He's still minuscule!" Howard exclaimed. 

"Ve have all these big men fighting right now, why don't ve give the little guys a chance?" Said Erskine.

I watched as the scrawny kid walked out of the convention and disappeared from sight. They're going to eat him alive out there.