Everything in italics is a memory

Steve and Bucky looked at one another, as the door to the room that Tony and (Y/n) had gone into, suddenly opened. The captain doing his best to catch the arm of the obviously distressed woman, that had just rushed past them. (Y/n) able to avoid his grasp, before making her way back outside the compound.

"I swear, if he has..........."

"Don't Bucky......" Steve said. Stopping his friend from following after the immortal. The sergeant's brows furrowed, as he looked between his best friend and the direction (Y/n) had gone.

"Give her a few minutes to calm down. I don't think it has anything to do with Tony; it was something that was in that box. And if she wants us to know, she said that she would tell us......." Steve explained, before Bucky reluctantly nodded. Both of them surprised how close they already felt to the immortal, even though she had not been with them long. The two old soldiers putting it down to the fact that they had a connection with her, that no one else had. That they had been alive at the exact same time; that they had seen and experienced the world as it used to be. That she had known battle, known the pain of watching your friends die around you, in a war that had taken over the world. That she had been connected to the project that had made Steve what he was; there when Heinz Kruger had killed Abraham Erskine. And though both doubted that she needed their help, they had both promised themselves to protect her; to not lose that link to the past and the world as it had been.

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(Y/n) quickly made her way back outside the compound. She hadn't meant to ignore Steve and Bucky, and she would be sure to apologise for what she had done, later. But for now........for now she needed air. She needed to think

Many would say that Howard had not been the best at showing his emotions; that even though he was a genius, when it came to expressing his feelings, he could be found lacking, and that was very true; and even though he had been better with her than he was with others, (Y/n) had still never seen Howard so open as he was in that film. Never really heard him say some of those things. That he shouldn't have sent her away; that he had made a mistake. That if he could do it over again, he would have kept her with him. Yet it was not that, that had made her cry. Not that, that had sent her running from the room. It was when he had said that there was not a day that went by that he did not think about her and what they had had; what he had let go. It was when he had said that he wanted her to be happy, to have the life they had always spoken of; and even though that life wouldn't be with him, he still wanted her to have all the things that he had promised her. The immortal not sure how many more times her heart could break because of Howard Stark.

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"You are the most beautiful woman in the world, you know that don't you......?" Howard said. The air in the room still heavy with the scent of sweat and sex, as he let his fingers gently brush over (Y/n)'s bare shoulder. Doing his best to give her one of his usual smiles but feeling that he was failing abysmally; for tomorrow, he would be sending her away. And that this......this was perhaps the last time that he might ever see his immortal. That this was the last time they would be able to be together; that he wouldn't ever be able to show her how much he really did love her, again.

"And you, without a doubt, are the most charming; as well as the most handsome........" (Y/n) countered. As she touched his cheek, feeling the slight stubble that had grown there since Abraham had been killed. Howard insisting on not leaving her side, until he could get her somewhere safe. Until he could get her away from himself and the project. Howard not knowing if the enemy agent had heard anything about her; if the nazis now knew who and what (Y/n) was. The fear of the enemy getting their hands on Erskine's serum, one thing; but if they could get (Y/n), if they could get her blood, then the allies might end up having to face an army of immortal soldiers. The chances then of defeating the nazis.......well, there probably wouldn't be a chance.

"I don't want to go, Howard. Let me stay here; you know I can help. That I can look after myself............"

"I don't doubt that sweetheart. And I know you could help. I just........." (Y/n) watching as Howard sat up and leaned his back against the headboard.

"The thought of them getting their hands on you. Experimenting on you........With Erskine being killed it just proves that our protocols, our defenses need improving. That if one enemy agent can get in, how many more have there been........could be.........."

"And you think that sending me off to Switzerland is going to keep me safe? You know I won't stay there, Howard. You know I'll make my way to England and fight for them, over there. You aren't going to stop me from doing my part in this war......" (Y/n) countered, as she too sat up. Howard sighing heavily, as he saw the look on her face. The sheer bloody-minded determination, that he had come to love, evident, as she stared at him. Howard aware that no matter what he said, even if he beseeched her to remain in Switzerland until the war was over, she wouldn't do it. But he still couldn't help but think that she was safer away from him. That she could do what she did, and become someone and something else, stopping the nazis from finding her.

"I love you. Never forget that, will you............" Howard merely replied; (Y/n) dropping her head and shaking it. Knowing that no matter what she said, she would still find herself on that plane, in the morning.

"I love you too, Howard. And don't you ever forget it either........" The immortal told him, before leaning forward and kissing him. Howard quickly grabbing her and turning her onto her back. The two not wanting to waste the rest of the night. The two not wanting to end things with an argument. The two knowing that they may never see one another again, so they were going to make the most of what little time they had left..............

"(Y/n)..........?" A voice suddenly came, making the memory of that last night she had spent with Howard, fade; yet not the emotions that were associated with it. The immortal not caring who it was that had come to join her, as she turned around and threw herself into their arms; just caring that at this moment, they were holding her as she needed to be held.