Stark's Personal Assistant || Howard Stark ||

|everyone needs Steve|

*five months later
"Howard" Dottie called walking into his lab seeing him asleep in there making her sigh and shake her head "Howard" she called in a soft tone as she crouched down and kissed his cheeks "dear c'mon go rest in your room" she spoke as he looked at her

"Dottie?" he asked rubbing his eyes "yeah it's me let's get you to bed" she smiled down at him helping him up "I can't, I gotta look-" she cuts him off by hugging him tightly "shh Howard take a break you've been looking for Steve for three months" she mumbled sadly trying to hold herself back from crying wanting to be strong for Howard "Dottie everyone needs Steve I have to look for him" he responds looking back at her seeing tears on her eyes "Howard I know. Take a break alright? even just for today" she said caressing his cheeks before he nod in response

"Miss Aimsworth, Miss Carter is at the garden waiting for you" Jarvis spoke after she closed the door of Howard's room. Nodding in response with a sad smile she went to the garden and left Jarvis. "How is he" she asked looking up at Dottie who stood beside her "how are you" Dottie asked ignoring her question knowing she's the one who's more affected on what happened to Steve

Peggy stood up giving her a sad smile before Dottie pulled her into a hug letting herself cry with Peggy "did he found Steve?" Peggy asked looking at her. Dottie shook her head with an apologetic look on her face "I'm sorry Peg but there still no sign of him" she responds wiping her own tears as Peggy did the same

Moments later the two sat down across each other while they both sip on their tea "Dottie are you sure you don't wanna talk about him? It's been five months and I know it's hard for you but you need to let it out your chest" Peggy spoke making Dottie stop from reading the newspaper and looked away from it "Peg I'm trying b-but I just can't" she mumbled looking at Peggy who nods her head and reached for her hands "take all the time you need to heal. I'll always be here if you wanna talk about him" Peggy smiled at her earning a nod from Dottie as she sigh holding back her tears

After a few hours Peggy went back home leaving Dottie on the garden by herself. Howard went to the garden seeing Dottie in there. He stood behind her and hugged her from behind "I'll get going" he kissed her cheeks earning a nod from her. "Wanna talk?" Howard asked looking down at her "I'll be fine, go look for Steve" she smiled up at him as he nods hesitantly not wanting to leave her "Howard I'm okay" she rubs his hand before he kissed her and left her in the garden

Dottie went back inside and went to her room and sat down to her bed, looking at her mirror she looked down at what she was wearing making her smile sadly to herself remembering that she was wearing the same dress she was wearing when she first met Steve and Bucky on the alley. "Miss Aimsworth?" Ana knocked on her door "come in" she replied before Ana walked in holding a paper on her hand making Dottie stood up from her bed "Jarvis found this when he was cleaning he asked me if I could give it to you" she smiled handing her the paper while Dottie looked down at it before tears started running down her cheeks as she took it from Ana "Miss Aimsworth if you don't mind me asking" Ana looked down at the paper before looking back at Dottie

"Last thing that I got from James" she paused looking down at it "before the accident" she mumbled the last part "I'm really sorry I shouldn't have asked" Ana apologized making Dottie look back up at her "it's okay I just need some time alone" she responds gaining a nod from Ana before she left her. Dottie lie down on her bed with the letter on her hands reading it again while tears runs down her cheeks remembering how close she have become with James