Just some quick writings to shed light on what Steve and Edie's life might have been like if things had gone very differently. Hope you enjoy!


"Oops. I'm quite sorry." Edie stumbled back after they collided, gloved hand grazing his shoulder.

"No it's my fault. My apologizes, Miss." Steve turned suddenly.

Words escaping him at the sight of her, raven hair framing a gleaming pair of emerald eyes and smooth ivory cheeks.

Edie smiled faintly, he was no taller than herself and she was sure she had to outweigh him. But that didn't bother her, it was Steve's deep gray blue eyes she couldn't look away from. They seemed to draw her in with their sparkle, she found him quite handsome.

Edie noticed the beaming reflection against the lighted poster, Steve's smaller stature causing his reflection to fall upon the man's chest, rather than the cut out face.

Once Steve followed Edie's gaze, he instantly felt ashamed, as if he was less of a man. Sensing his wounded pride she moved in closer, lowering her voice she said "Mind if I share my thoughts?"

Shaking his head Steve braced himself for a painful comment regarding his physical shortcomings.

"I believe a soldier isn't measured in his physical strength but rather the bravery he has in his heart." Edie's hand found a spot gently upon his chest and Steve could feel her warmth radiate through the thin button up as his heart pounded faster.

"I..wish everyone felt the same." He fumbled for words as he tried to regain his composure. Steve wasn't use to girls actually talking to him, more ignoring him to get a chance to talk to Bucky. Much like his date tonight, fawning over the tall, dark haired soldier and barely looking Steve's way the entire night.

Edie's smile widened, finding his shy nature endearing as Steve puffed a laugh towards his shoes.

"We're all in this war together, no need to pick on our own. Plus, I always root for the underdog."

Steve felt himself caught up in the slow bat of those long lashes as she spoke, kissing the freckles on her cheeks.

"I've been called a lot of things, but underdog-"

"Put your arm around me." Edie suddenly piped, stiffening at the sight of someone over Steve's shoulder.

Before Steve could even register her polite demand, Edie was tucked under his elbow and making herself comfortable against his shoulder.

Steve was taken aback at how easily they fit together, how natural they appeared in the glossy reflection. Edie's warmth invaded his personal space in a way that he never knew he needed before, blackened waves tickling his neck with a soft and sweet scent. Without out even knowing her name, Steve was sure he'd never be able to let her go.

"I'm on a date." Edie revealed, as they continued to keep their backs towards the rest of the world. Pretending to study the recruitment posters, that urged able bodies to sign up with the help of a smiling soldier or a particularly handsome nurse, Edie failed to notice the sudden deflate in Steve's expression.

"Oh..so was I, actually."

Edie subconsciously laced her gloved hand through Steve's, tugging him gently around a corner with a thinning crowd. It was an act that she felt was already second nature, doing it before she realized.

"Well I hope yours is going better than mine. My cousin insisted on it, and quite frankly I'd rather stick my head in the oven than stand another moment with that Neanderthal."

Steve struggled focus on anything but their interlocked hands, so delicate and deliberate were her movements that it left Steve breathless. Edie peeked a sly glance back at the gentleman tagging along her side, noticing the remnants of a twitching smirk on those full lips as she huffed her annoyance. Edie stepped away from him to study nothing in particular, snuffing out the growing urge to take that handsomely sad face in her hands and pepper kisses anywhere she pleased.

This action gave Steve his own chance to admire what was before him, and it was certainly not the soldiers in the posters that he couldn't take his eyes off of. The rich cranberry colored dress framed Edie's curves, material stretched snuggling across the fullness of her hips and beckoned Steve for a touch. Satin black waves pinned neatly into place and the heels she wore elevated Edie to just meet his height.

"Is there something so wrong with a woman having an opinion? You'd think I was Hitler in heels by his reaction." Edie returned her attention back to Steve at the sudden sound of his laugh, hearty and chest-shaking it seemed to dim the very lights of New York.

Edie found herself wanting to hear it again, that velvety note that left her grinning ear to ear.

"You said you were on a date? Where is the lucky lady and how could she let me steal you away for so long?"

Steve felt the heat rising in his cheeks as Edie returned, seeming even closer this time. Each breath he took was laced with her essence, until she completely consumed his senses.

"Well, I don't think you two share the same opinion of me. She has made it perfectly clear I am not her type." Steve grimmed the truth of rejection, something he was too familiar with, that was until tonight.

Maybe his luck was changing?

"Well it would seem she's more suited for my date. I'm sure they'll make a lovely, simpleminded couple."

Edie's words hummed passed her lips, fingers shifting to fix the creased material of Steve's collar, where her head had once laid when an idea dawned and she couldn't contain it.

"What do you say we ditch 'em? I could use a strong drink and good conversation. Care to help a girl out?"

It took Steve a few moments to register Edie's suggestion, drowning happily in those jade pools when her words pulled him out.

But it was too late.

Edie's eyes shifted to an approaching figure, tall and clad in a neat uniform.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Rogers startled at the sudden sound of Bucky's voice, his attention too caught up in this beautiful stranger.

"The girls are waiting. They wanna catch a movie." Buck intervened with a curious suspicion, watching as the two barely acknowledged his presence.

Green met blue, imploring and smirking with mischief as if laughing at a joke only they knew.

"Well I should be going. It was nice to bump into you." Edie expressed with a wink, nodding at them both before exiting.

And again Steve felt that soft touch graze his shoulder as Edie passed, lingering for a moment by his side before placing a gentle kiss high on his cheek and whispering a faint 'thank you'.

Steve's feet stayed rooted to the gritty concrete, a hand ghosting the light smudge of lipstick left behind.

Bucky too found himself speechless, following the beautiful head of glossy black hair through the crowd. Slapping Steve's arm urgently to turn when he caught Edie's head glance back. Her gaze locked unmistakably on Steve, lingering with a hinted smile before disappearing into the current of bodies.

"What the hell just happened? I leave you alone for 5 minutes and find you up here wooing some dame." Bucky narrated in disbelief.

"She's not some dame." Steve found his voice, gaze still focused on the very spot where Edie stood. He could still feel her around him, carrying her scent on his jacket and lips on his skin, Steve mentally scolded himself for letting her slip through his fingers. Surely she'd go back on her date, slowly fall in love with that meat head of a man.

Or would she?

Something told Steve this mystery woman was not as superficial and fickle as most women that crossed his path.

"Well whoever she was, she sure had an eye for you. Come'on we're taking the girls to a movie." Bucky motion him in the direction of the crowd, Steve reluctantly tore himself away but not before bumping into someone else.

"Oh I am quite sorry." A German accent shifted from beside the young blonde, quickly crouching to find his fallen glasses

"No it's my fault, I've been doing that a lot tonight." Steve admitted, kneeling to save the oval shaped spectacles from their demise under a passing woman's high heel.

"Thank you."

The balding man nodded vigorously, replacing his glasses and finding Steve come into focus.

"You have enlisted?" The man quizzed, adjusting the creased white lab coat around his shoulders.

"Um, actually I was-"

Steve's sentence was cut off by the bellowing command of Bucky Barnes, accompanied by a cackle of giggling girls.

"Steve come on! Movies are kind of on a schedule."

"Sorry, gotta go." Steve gave a quick farewell to the Doctor before snaking through the maze of convention goers.

The older man gave a defeated sigh, stuffing his hands in his pockets he turned to retreat back into the recruitment hall when he caught the tail end of Steve's voice.

"Buck, you know the closest place to get a stiff drink?"

Oh the young, do they know what's coming? Dr. Abraham Erskine thought to himself.

-0-

Miles away and last minute a shipyard worker decides to have a night out on the town with his buddies, a few drinks and a laugh. Besides he could always do his inspections in the morning, before the soldier's were due to ship off.

He had plenty of time and the engines had been in tip top shape a few days ago. All he needed was a good laugh and his friends to lighten the serious mood that plagued the once jubilant city atmosphere.

The engines were fine after all…