Till the End of the Line

Chapter One

I woke up that morning with a start. I didn't have anything planned for the day so I knew I hadn't set my alarm when all of a sudden I heard a pounding on my front door. I jolted up in bed, still trying to get my own thoughts together. Another set of pounding on the front door made it sound like it was going to bust down at any moment. I huffed as I stood, grabbing my silk robe off the back of my vanity chair.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I muttered to myself, throwing the front of the robe around me, grabbing the tie around my waist. Glancing through the peephole I let out a sigh of relief.

"Steve," I said as I opened the door, finishing the bow, closing the robe around me and placing my hand on my waist.

"Oh," Steve said as he quickly looked down, a blush evident on his cheeks, "Sorry Betty, I thought you would be awake."

"It's ok," I said as I stepped to the side so he could come in, "Come on in."

He quietly stepped through the door frame, awkwardly standing in the middle of my small living room. I lived alone, which was hard enough, let alone a single woman in New York. 

"Coffee?" I asked as I walked into my even smaller kitchen. My apartment wasn't much, 300 square feet. Just enough for one person. He gave me a quiet nod as I put on a pot, "So what are you doing here this early?" 

"Well, I was going to go down to the military recruitment office," he said as he sat on one of the chairs in the living room, "Didn't know if maybe you wanted to come with me?" 

"Buck is busy isn't he," I said, knowing full well Bucky was his best friend. The only reason I was being asked was because he had already asked him. 

"Yea," he said looking down to his lap, "Bucky is busy." 

I looked at him with a smile as I handed him his cup of coffee. I sat on the small loveseat in the living room, sipping on my own cup as well. 

"I'll go with you," I said, he looked at me excited, "on one condition." I smiled as I saw the excitement leave his face, worry replacing it. I loved messing with him. He was like my big brother, well, at least older brother. He was small, looked more fragile than he really was. But he was a determined soul. Someone who was willing to do anything for anyone without hesitation. It was no wonder he wanted to go and join the military really. He would have been the smallest soldier out there but he would have been the most devoted without a doubt. 

"Take me to see that new cartoon at the theater," I said leaning on the arm of the couch and giving him puppy dog eyes. I pouted my lip, hoping that would also work in my favor. He let out a small chuckle as he shook his head at me. 

"That's it?" he asked, his eyebrow cocked. With a big smile I nodded my head. "Well, get dressed, put on some real clothes." I jumped up, clapping my hands together in triumph as I ran off to my bedroom to get dressed. 

I grabbed my favorite dark blue skirt and a cream button up that was at the back of my closet. Luckily the soft curls around my face from the day before were still there and looked at least somewhat decent. I pinned back a small amount of hair and refreshed my light makeup. Once I was satisfied with how I looked I made my way back out to the living room. 

"Ready?" I asked Steve as I slipped on my small brown Oxford heels and light, brown cardigan. I could tell the day was at least a little chilly from the draft that came in when I opened the door earlier. 

He nodded his head as he made his way over to the door, "After you." He politely held the door open as I walked through it before handing him my key to lock it.