Briana "Bree" Grace and Steven "Steve" Grant Rogers were all that remained after their parents, Sarah and Joseph, passed away. Their father perished as a soldier in World War I, and their mother recently succumbed to tuberculosis.
With a history of health issues in the family, they learned to depend on each other for care.
Steve harbored a dream to honor his country and family by becoming a soldier like his father, but his numerous health conditions led to repeated rejections from the military. Despite his asthma, scoliosis, color blindness, partial deafness, musculoskeletal deformities, sinusitis, hypertension, heart palpitations, anemia, diabetes, and slight build, Steve was determined to fulfill his dream.
Bree shared a similar determination. She aspired to be a leader during World War II to contribute positively, but her cardiac condition hindered her. She adapted by training as a field nurse. After contracting scarlet fever, which led to untreated rheumatic fever causing heart, joint, brain, and skin complications, her military aspirations were further challenged. Rheumatic fever often results in heart valve scarring due to inflammation. The military, upon learning of her heart condition, barred her from service, underestimating her resilience. Despite this, Bree was committed to making a difference with the time she had, never knowing when it might end.
As their mother Sarah lay on her deathbed, she was acutely aware of her children's aspirations and their determination to achieve them. She reminded them that despite their seemingly frail appearances, Steve possessed a heart vastly larger than his stature, and Bree's heart, delicate as it seemed, was the most resilient Sarah had ever encountered. She extracted a promise from them to pursue their dreams wisely and avoid trouble. This promise would echo in their minds for years to come.
Living in Hell's Kitchen, amidst the rough streets of Brooklyn, New York, was perilous for the Rogers siblings and many others. Steve's diminutive frame and asthma made him a prime target, and Bree was equally vulnerable due to her cardiac condition and her delicate beauty. They frequently came to each other's defense, but it wasn't always sufficient to steer clear of trouble, and Steve was not one to flee from a confrontation, even when victory was out of reach.
Their childhood on the streets also brought them into contact with an orphan boy, Alexander "Alec" Seth Anders, who was subjected to relentless bullying at the local orphanage. Alec, an orphan of the same age as Steve and bereft of family after losing his parents in conflict, was no stranger to adversity. Despite the challenges, he fought valiantly, a trait inherited from his military lineage.
Their final friend, a boy one year senior to Steve and Alec, was James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, the accomplished eldest son of George and Winnifred Barnes, known for his athletic prowess and academic excellence.
Over time, Bree and Bucky developed feelings for each other, growing from childhood friends into young adults in love. Steve and Alec would often jest that they had been a couple since childhood, eagerly anticipating when they would finally acknowledge their relationship. Unbeknownst to them, that moment was near, and it would herald a change in their lives beyond any of their expectations.
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Bree:
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