To Bring Back a Legend (July 1998)

Isabella smiled and blushed slightly at her husband's comment. She watched him walk away towards the kitchen and she turned and looked back at Steve. She was glad to see that so far everyone was getting along. It was going to take a while to bring Steve up to speed on everything that had happened in the last 53 years, but she was willing to do whatever she could to help him. She felt responsible for him now that he was out of the ice partially because of her.

Isabella looked at Logan and then at Steve when Logan offered Steve a beer. It seemed harmless enough, but Isabella knew it wasn't a good idea since his blood had just been filtered.

"Actually, I'm not sure that's such a good idea right now Steve. I would give your body a few more days to recover fully."

Just then Sarah appeared with Serena. Isabella smiled and introduced Sarah to Steve and then took Serena from Sarah and smiled at him. "And this is our daughter, Serena. She's almost three months now."

Steve smiled at the baby. "Oh, she's a doll," He said but did not ask to hold her. "Obviously she takes after her mother," he complimented. "So, what is it that you all do here?" He asked.

Isabella smiled a little at Steve’s compliment. She gave Serena her pacifier and smoothed back her hair. She was clearly a loving and devoted mother. She looked back over at Steve though when he asked what all they did there.

“Well Tony, Logan, and I have formed a small group called the Avengers. We fight and protect the people of New York City.”

Steve's eyebrows raised at that. "The...Avengers," He said as if trying to decided if he liked the word. "So...then...the world is not so rosy in the future? Was there another...war?" He asked hesitantly.

Isabella nodded a little in response to Steve’s question. “A couple in fact, unfortunately. But there are bigger threats now. Super humans, like yourself, only not on our side. We work to protect those that cannot protect themselves.”

"Hydra...what about Hydra? Are they?...Are they still a threat!?" Steve asked and couldn't stop himself from getting upset. From feeling more than a little bit of anxiety about them. He had tried to stop them. He had tried. Had he failed? His eyes fixed upon hers.

Isabella saw Steve’s anxiety rising and she didn’t want to upset him. He was already dealing with a lot, however, she could tell that he needed an answer, even if it wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “Hydra does still exist...but not on the scale it used to. Unfortunately, the group we are dealing with now is the SSB, otherwise known as the Soviet Special Branch. They’re extremely dangerous.”

Steve's eyes blinked. He would have hoped that humanity had changed. This news...this information had really disturbed him. He had always thought that humanity would have progressed past things like this. That people would learn how to see past their differences and things like greed and lust for power would be a thing of the past. Obviously it wasn't. He gazed around the room. Whomever these Stark's were...Tony was Howard's son? They were wealthy. Steve didn't think much of Howard. He took him as some kind of playboy. More so than the scientist and inventor he was. He didn't want to judge these people though but rich people, from his experience, got rich off the backs of those they could manipulate. He frowned.

"I...want to help in any way i can," He heard himself saying though his insides twisted knowing that Hydra was still out there. He had failed. And he was right in thinking that one man could make any kind of difference. He needed to go to church.

"Is there a church nearby? I'd like to go to mass...uh, what day is it?" He asked.

Isabella continued to hold Serena who had starting dozing off in her arms. It upset Isabella to see how upset Steve was. However, she felt she couldn't lie to him. He deserved to know the truth. She couldn't imagine how he must be feeling knowing that all he had done and sacrificed had not ended up changing the world as he had thought it would.

"It's Wednesday. There is a church nearby. Would you like for me to go with you? If not, I can have Happy drop you off."