Stars Dance

I Miss You

I fall asleep that night. It's the first time I've slept soundly for a couple of weeks. Even in my dreams i can't escape Astella, or maybe i don't want too. She's all i ever think about. All i ever see. I just wish she would get better so we can pick up where we left off. I don't know if we were in a relationship. I just know that i love her and she loves me too. It's weird being in love with someone you barely known. Add that to the fact that she's been gone and presumed dead for the past six months, i don't know where we stand or if we were ever standing to begin with. In my dreams though, she's beautiful and radiant. She's whole again.

"Hellooo! Steveee!" Astella calls out dragging the last letter of each word.

"Yea?" i question opening my eyes. For some reason we're in Brooklyn down by the beach. Astella is wearing a one piece striped bathing suit with sleeves, and shorts that almost hit her knees. What bathing suits used to look like before women realized if they showed a little more skin men might look their way. Men, not gentlemen. She still looked beautiful. I had been laying in the sand, a beach towel under me and an umbrella overhead.

"Come play with Bucky and I and his new friends." Astella whines grabbing my hand.

"I'm really not good at volleyball." i replied standing. I found myself taller than her which was weird. I had thought in my un-enhanced state we would be the same height. Then i looked down. I was still built up. The serum in my veins. I stared down at my muscles, brows furrowed, confused.

"Oh come on. You love this game. Don't lie to me." Astella says with a roll of her eyes hitting my arm lightly. "Come on!" she begins to drag me towards the net. Bucky stands with a couple of girls and some jealous looking guys as he shows off his muscles to the girls.

"See the army does wonders, just look at Steve over there." Bucky says with a smile gesturing towards me. "Working out has done you good. You're a real lady killer now." Bucky teases hitting my arm. For the first time in my life i can look him in the eye and not have him look down to me like some kid.

"Working out? What about the serum? The war?" i question. Bucky cocks his head and arches an eyebrow.

"We won the war Steve. Remember? What serum?" I open my mouth and close it confused.

"Well how did i get like this?" Bucky starts laughing and so does Astella.

"The army. Don't you remember. They took a chance on you and you were so determined you passed boot camp with flying colors. We were in the same regimen." i stare at Bucky with bewilderment.

"Come on Steve stop kidding around. Let's play." Astella says with a small laugh shoving me off to the side to get into position. I guess the teams were already set. Bucky heads under the neat with two other girls and three guys. On our side there are four girls and two guys. I don't know how those odds are working out for us.  I wasn't doubting the girl's abilities i just hoped Bucky's team wouldn't crush us too bad. I would never hear the end of it. "Alright, serve Captain." Astella says winking at me as she tosses me the ball.

"Captain?" i echo. Astella gives me a weird look.

"Yeah you ranked Captain in the army." i just continue to stare at her. "Are you okay?" Astella asks with worry. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just a little.. Confused." I knew i was in a dream but i hoped to God that it wasn't. Everything was perfect. I was back in my own time. The war was over and Bucky was here, but so was Astella. Shouldn't I have been with Peggy? This is definitely a dream. As soon as i told myself this everything began to melt away.