Red White and Blue

Chapter 4: Letters

I hear footsteps coming towards the kitchen. Jarvis turns excitedly seconds before a woman with ginger hair appears through the door.

"Welcome home, darling!" Jarvis greets, embracing the woman.

She happily embraces him back, "What's for dinner, Mr. Jarvis?"

"I'm making lobster. Mr. Stark wanted to celebrate the beginning of Miss Bentley's employment," He tells the woman, gesturing to me. "She's chopping up vegetables for the salad. She insisted." Jarvis adds, sounding less pleased.

The woman approaches me before she pulls me into a hug, "Lovely to meet you! I'm Ana!"

I hug back, despite the action causing me pain, "Great to meet you, I'm Alice,"

Jarvis quickly hurries over and pulls Ana away from me, "Darling, she's recently been injured. Try to be careful?"

She turns to me, "I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you?"

I wave off her concern, "No, don't worry. I'm tough,"

Ana smiles at me before grabbing a chair and pulling it up to the counter, "So, Alice, how has it been so far? Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Stark have treated you well, I hope,"

I nod, "It's been great. Howard and I worked a bit before he got sauced, which I may be responsible for,"

Jarvis sighs, "Yes, because you don't stop talking about-"

"Uh-uh!" I cut him off, "Enough of that!"

Jarvis smirks to Ana, "She's in love, but only she can talk about it,"

I throw a slice of cucumber at him, "Stop with the gobbledygook!"

Jarvis laughs, "Look at her, Ana,"

Ana smiles, "Leave the poor girl alone, darling. For now, anyway. Before she throws the whole salad at you,"

I laugh, "Listen to your wife, Jarvis,"

"I always do,"

A comfortable silence falls over us, and Jarvis passes me cucumbers to chop into fourths. I slice the cucumbers into slices first. I work a little slower than I had chopped up the carrots. Or butchered, as Jarvis said.

Ana smiles at me again, "So, how'd you get him to let you help?"

"I usually cook at home. I thought helping him out would help me settle better. This is a big change for me,"

Ana nods sympathetically, "I'm sure it is," She pats my hand, "We're all here for you, though,"

I nod, "Thank you,"

"Yes, anything you need, we'll help," Jarvis tells me, "Speaking of help, you mentioned you write to your friend daily. Have you had time to yet?"

I nod, "Yes, of course. It's one of the first things Steve and I do every day,"

"Is there anything you don't do with Steve?" Jarvis asks.

I think for a moment as I chop the cucumbers into fourths, "Not really. He had to help me with everything after my recent injury. I think he's helped me out with more than he'd have liked to, in all honesty."

~

Jarvis sat Ana and I before running off to find Howard, who I assume is passed out somewhere by now.

"Do you enjoy wine?" Ana asks.

"Never had it, it wasn't a necessity, so we never bought it,"

"Who is we?"

"Steve, Bucky and I. Bucky's off fighting the war and Steve's probably fighting a spider. The spider'll probably win, though,"

Ana giggles, "Where is Steve that he'd be fighting a spider?"