( LIKE A FACT )

MAYBE SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE SPENT ALL OF HER TIME WITH STEVE, BUT THAT'S HOW IT SEEMED TO GO. It helped to take her mind off of Gordon and the fact that she has the potential to lose him like she lost her dad. Even if she really didn't remember the man, having apparently only seen him once before he was killed in action as a baby. But still, the stories her mom used to tell her and Gordon, of the way he used to be a goofball and he was always happy and trying to help everyone. It was hard to think that she never got to know him. And she did know Gordon, which made it even harder to think about losing him. 

They wrote letters when they could. Every couple of days, she'd get a letter from him, complaining about some asshole recruit who kept everyone everyone awake till odd hours in the night. She wrote back that's she's pretty sure Steve liked the feeling of getting punched in the face, because she's had to nurse six black eyes due to him fighting. Which, she also wrote to Bucky asking how she could stop him from fighting like he is. The response she got was a single sheet of paper that had the words scribbled you don't, you just make sure he's okay after which wasn't helpful at all. 

She was just glad that with Steve's medical conditions, there really wasn't a way for him to get enlisted. And as selfish as that thought was, Edith was scared of losing him. Sure, if he managed to join the Army, she would be supportive because he needs that. But, until then, she's going to be happy just taking care of him as he is, the comic illustrator that was currently holding a freezer burnt steak to his eye. 

She knows he tried to enlist the day before, so he was slightly angry at the system about their policies and wants to prove himself in the only way he can: standing up to the bullies that were being disrespectful and terrors of people. She knew that Steve would never back down when he was given said challenge, being the stubborn knucklehead that he was. That didn't mean Edith worried any less about him. 

"Thanks," he said, breaking the silence that came with Edith's brooding. She looked up at him from where she was playing with his left hand's fingers, the ones that weren't bruised from punching. Edith didn't say anything, just wordlessly held her hand out to examine the bruised knuckles on the other hand. Steve switched which hands was holding the steak, then hissed at the feeling of Edith rubbing against the darkest part of his bruise. 

"Sorry," she mumbled, moving so that she could press a light kiss to the knuckles, willing them to heal faster. When she looked up, Steve was blushing. The fond feeling that Edith was used to having whenever she was Steve made itself known in that moment, like it had been sitting around and waiting for the right moment to jump out. She let him have his hand back a second later, watched him trade hands holding the frozen steak to his eye, and then she was scooping up his left hand again. "You're okay, though, right? No broken bones or anything?"

Steve shook his head, "No, just a black eye and a bruised ego." 

The steak came down from the face, making a noise as he threw it on the table. Edith lifted her hand to gently cup the side of Steve's face that was bruised, her fingers lightly skimming over the dark purple clouding his eye. He didn't flinch away, didn't move, didn't even seem to breathe until Edith's gaze flickered to his eyes. 

They stared at each other, lost in their own little world, and Edith suddenly has the urge to lean forward and just kiss the hell out of Steve. Which makes her blink and that seems to break whatever tension was between them. And, this really shouldn't have been a surprising thought, because she knows she likes Steve, but having the urge be as strong as it was was a little scary. Especially because she can see herself kissing Steve right now. 

And she could see herself kissing him for that rest of her life.

That thought hits her like a train because she gets a look of Steve looking at her shyly and she realizes that she's totally in love with him. For the months that she's known him, it was building up and she hadn't even realized it. This small little shit had wormed his way into her heart, acting all sweet and polite when really he was digging his claws into her. 

As much as thinking that she loved Steve was like getting punched when they first met, it felt strangely right? Almost like it was a fact. The sky is blue, the sun shines, Edith Rutherford loves Steve Rogers. Yep. It felt completely normal to think that, and that kinda scares Edith. 

She blinks at Steve, who was now nursing the steak back on his face again. Edith is fidgeting with his hand again, playing with the his fingers as the two of them fell into casual conversation. Before, Edith would have been confused on how the two of them were able to keep up just talking, but now that she realized that she loves him, she knows the reason it's so easy to talk to Steve. She wants to know everything there ever is to know about him. And if God blesses her, she will. She'll be able to grow old and love him throughout that whole time. (She's not going to think about the possibility that she might lose him to the medical conditions he has; she can't.)

It's a while before Steve looks at the watch on his wrist, before he curses, apologizes for cursing, and then tells Edith his has to go. Edith doesn't think he realizes he's doing it as he gets up, thanks her for nursing his injuries, placing a kiss on her forehead as he heads toward the door. Warmth spreads through Edith's entire being and she knows she's blushing, but she's also beaming as she turns to watch Steve go. 

Steve Rogers. who she's in love with. 

Edith doesn't know how long she sits at the table after Steve leaves, just smiling and thinking about the time she spent with Steve in a new light. She feels almost giddy because she didn't think this would happen to her until after the war. But finding Steve was serendipity and Edith doesn't think she'd change it in a second.

Realizing that she needed to tell at least someone about her affections, she got a piece of paper and a pen, grabbing an envelope as well and quickly addressing it to Gordon and writing down the address he had given her to write to. After chewing on her pen for a minute, thinking about how the hell she wanted to write this out, she put the tip of the pen to the paper. 

Dear Gordon,

        So, something has happened. Don't worry, don't panic, we still have the apartment and everything is going alright in New York (I still can't believe they sent you to New Jersey). This is going to be a surprise (or, hell, maybe it won't), but I have something very important to tell you. And, because I think you're training with Bucky as well, please show him his letter because I don't want to write it out twice. That would be redundant and Mom would slap my hand for doing that. (Though, she should have her hand slapped a thousand times for thinking it's okay to leave us). 

        Anyway. I'm pretty sure I love Steve. Like 97.5% sure. Scratch that. Like 98% sure that I'm in love with Steve. Now, don't be freaking out and going all overprotective brother on me, because I'm pretty sure you could break Steve if you tackle him and, well, I don't want him broken.  

        And let's not make a big deal out of it. I haven't told him yet, I don't know when I'm going to, but I do know that if there is a chance that he even has a little bit of feelings for me, then this could work. Because he's literally the best thing that has ever come into my life and I don't want it ruined by you jumping the gun and congratulating us as soon as you get back. If things develop, you'll get a letter. But as of right now, Steve and I are what we always have been. 

        Which, to say, I'm pretty sure we're dating, but then again. I mean, he's taken me to many picture shows and to dinner and we've talked about anything and everything. But, I could be wrong. 

        Gosh, I need to get me some friends that are girls. This would be so much easier to talk about with then instead of my brother.

        I hope everything is going good with Basic Training. The guy who keeps your bunk up at night is hopefully getting better because I'm sure you're all exhausted by the end of the day. Please, stay safe. I know you're not in battle yet, but I still worry and I can't help it. 

        That goes the same for you, Bucky, if Gordon has showed this to you. 

Love,
Edith.

⚬ ⚬ ⚬

Dear Edith, 

        See, I was expecting you to figure out that you love him in another month, basically when I'm home so that I could laugh at the slight panic it would have caused you. But, we don't get what we want sometimes, and this is one of those times. I'm happy that you figured out what Bucky and I had figured out some time ago. 

        Don't worry, we're pretty sure Steve is just as clueless as you were. And for how we figured it out, it was the little things. The absent minded need to hold his hand, the way you looked at him like he hung the stars, your need to spend basically every moment you could get with him. It was actually kinda cute, sis. Disgusting, but cute. The only time I've ever seen you like this was when you had that crush on Randolph Simmons in the fifth grade and you wouldn't leave the poor boy alone. 

        I have shown Bucky the letter, as per your request, and all he did was smile, look at me and say, "finally". Which, like I said, we were both waiting for you to realize those feelings for him. Bucky says that he won't tell Steve. It's obviously better if you tell him and we don't want to take away from the moment when you actually do. Just don't do anything stupid, like get punched again, because that would be unromantic. 

        I can't believe I just gave you relationship advice. I think I need to go scrub my hands for an hour because of it. Yuck. 

        Anyway, Basic is going good. The prick who's staying up actually got moved bunks, thank God, so all of us are resting easier. I feel sorry for the people who got stuck with the bastard though. After some of the training we have had, you just want to collapse in bed and sleep afterwards. Some of us, not me, had even been plotting something to do to get him to shut up. Good thing it hadn't come to that. Some of it was pretty brutal stuff. 

        How is Mr. and Mrs. Finch? Is she still make you pies every time you do one little thing for her? God, I miss that pie. When I get home, I'm going to ask her to make me some because a man is weak. 

        I hope you're doing okay, and to help ease your worry, I'm doing fine. Building muscle so that I can help fight Nazis and anyone else that has sided with the Axis in the war. Everything is going to work out, Edith, and then you'll get to live a long happy life with Steve and the three children you've been dreaming about having since you were twelve. 

Love, 

Gordon.

____________

so, i'm starting into the first avenger next chapter and i'm so excited. i hope this fic is as enjoyable for you as it is for me. i know that i'm developing it super fast, but edith and steve have been seeing each other basically everyday for the past couple of months because of their relationship. i just didn't want to write that because it's boring to read just dialogue and the same thing over and over again. 

but yay! edith and steve are gonna be adorable vjfksdbvjfsinv