The streets of Brooklyn hadn't changed at all since Ally had been gone. As she sat in her SSR uniform in the back of a yellow taxi, she watched as shoppers swarmed the boutiques and vendors. It was mainly women who shopped to the streets, their wide-brimmed hats catching the attention of the young men who hadn't be recruited for the war. They flashed their well earned money in exchange for designer goods. The homeless still wandered the street, often in noisy exchanges with others or kind nods to those they passed by.

She did not miss the noise of Brooklyn but she did miss the liveliness.

Jojo squeezed her hand, her skirt too tight for her to sit in. "Happy to be home?"

Ally shrugged, resting her cheek against the car window. "I suppose."

"It isn't much of a glamorous return but we aren't done working it, mama and father don't know we've come home," Jojo explained, using her other hand to lace her hands with William's. "We'll be back in that noisy house soon enough."

Ally didn't respond, she simply clutched her small pocketbook to her chest and watched the city pass before her eyes in a visual blur. The rattle of the engines soothed her nerves as they reached their designated meeting spot. William paid the taxi driver and gave him a generous tip while Jojo attempted to climb out of the car in her tight skirt. Ally helped unload the minimal luggage and adjusted her eyes to the light.

"Welcome back Agent Jones and Agent Dansworth," an amused British accent said from behind Ally. "Doctor Jones, your work has been incredible, it's an honour to finally meet you."

Ally squinted her eyes, offering her hand to the tall brunette with her lips stained red. "Thank you–"

"Agent Carter, I see your sister hasn't told you a thing about your nephew's godmother."

Jojo came over from the car and quickly embraced Agent Carter, kissing either side of her cheeks. "Ally, this is Peggy Carter."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm sorry that I had no idea you existed."

"A con of a double life," Peggy explained. "I have a car waiting for us, are we all ready?"

"I believe so," William declared, picking up all the luggage and juggling it towards the car. "Ladies first."

"Erskine believes that you are to be fully protected while we take you to headquarters. You must be more special than I initially had thought, welcome to the game Doctor Jones."

Ally smiled slightly, she hadn't smiled much since she left England. Her cunning and witty remarks seemed to be muted and nothing in her system felt right. "I'm just happy I can do something to help."

"I hear you are rather acquainted with our chosen candidate?"

"Peggy–" Jojo warned, stopping to see Ally's confused reaction. "I haven't told her yet."

Ally waited a moment, thinking over the way Jojo had warned Peggy. "Erskine chose Steve, didn't he?" she waited for a response but received none. "Didn't he?"

"We didn't think it would be wise to tell you after you had to leave so quickly."

"Is he stupid?" Ally groaned. "Doesn't that idiot know that it's risky?"

"Of course he does," Peggy confirmed. "I do believe he knew all along."

Ally put a hand through her hair and balled some of it into a fist. "I didn't actually think he'd get picked."

Ally caught Peggy frowning slightly, which she quickly dismissed. She took a deep breath before calmly flipping through her pocketbook. "Where is Rogers now?"

"I still have to pick him up from the camp but I had orders to get you to headquarters so you can prep with Erskine and the others," Peggy explained. "I hate to admit it, but he's worked hard for this."

"Oh I wouldn't deny that," Ally responded. "Steve Rogers was meant to do the extraordinary."

Peggy looked down at her lap, smiling softly at the thought of the small boy. "You think so?"

"I know so."

—

The SSR headquarters were hidden behind an antique shop, guarded by an elderly woman Ally had yet to learn the name of. Peggy, Jojo and William seemed to know her rather well, as they had shared a quick laugh before entering the hidden facility.

She was reunited with Ruthie Murray, Ivan Farland, Evelyn Abbott, Darwin Walsh and Abraham Erskine in seconds. With a proud smile, Ally handed Erskine her pocketbook, filled will knowledge she had learnt from month on the battlefield.

"Thank you for this Doctor Jones," Erskine flipped through her book, scanning every page twice. "I hope to see you assisting me during future excitements."

Ally hid her excitement with a curt nod. "It is I who should be thanking you. This opportunity has allowed me to further my studies and test my knowledge in real life events."

Erskine's elderly face twisted into an appealing smile. His German accent only made Ally find him that more interesting and brilliant. "Don't tell anyone else but you are my favorite."

"I won't," she grinned. "How can I be of service?"

From behind, Howard Stark brushed past her and went directly towards one of the power sources, belting orders at the nearby doctors and nurses. Erskine grinned and called him over. "Your services won't be needed until I say, so take a break," Erskine explained as Howard walked towards them. "Mr. Stark, this is Ally Jones."

Howard stuck out his hand and Ally shook it firmly. "I've watched one of your shows sir, you're brilliant.

"I'd like to think so. Are you the brains behind all of Erskine's research?" He questioned.

"I'd like to think so," she repeated. "I'm a huge fan of your work."

"A pretty little dame like you should have a few fans of her own," he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "Would you like a tour?"

"No thank you," she replied. "But I do need a pen, do you have one I could borrow?"

Howard pulled one out from his suit pocket, scribbling on his hand to make sure it worked. "There you go miss."

"I'll return it once I'm done with it."

While the other doctors seemed hard at work, preparing for Steve to arrive, she had managed to find time to write a letter to Bucky.

Dear James,

There's been this pit in my stomach ever since I left England. It's called fear and I know that you are smart enough to know why I have fear eating me from the inside. Fear is a chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with the release of chemicals that cause a racing heart, fast breathing and energized multiple effects. I can't think of a life without James Buchanan Barnes so I have come to the conclusion that you aren't dead.

When you return from war or I come to visit you, I have so much information and knowledge I need to catch you up on. If I am being honest, I've told you a few lies that I am ready to clear up if I am to be your future wife. How odd does that sound? A few short months ago I was going out of my way to look better than your date to that expo. What was her name again? Connie? I do hope she's well.

Please send an update on that rascal Quincy Taker and Peter Dunn as well. Send my love to my patients who I had to leave. Make sure that Colonel Moriarty knows that Jojo and I are forever grateful that he looked out for the Jones' girls. Although, my full heart goes out to you Bucky, my Sergeant Barnes. I suppose I really am your best girl now huh? Well your best girl is waiting for you to come home.

Stay safe,
Alchemy Jones

She folded the piece of paper in half and tucked it into her pocket book, intending to mail it out after Project Rebirth was completed.

"Ally?"

Ally spun her head around and met the blue eyes of Steve Rogers, dressed in his military uniform. She immediately ran over to hug him, wrapping her arms around his neck and squeezing him until he couldn't breathe. "My goodness! I've missed you so much Rogers!"

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, smiling at one of the members of his golden trio. "I thought you were in England?"

"I was," she told him. "I have something to tell you."

"I'm listening."

"Like Agent Carter and Dr. Erskine, I am also apart of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. It wasn't a secret I wanted to keep from you but it was for your own good. Every time I built up the courage to tell you, I could never get it out. William isn't the CEO of a big company and Jojo is definitely not just a trophy wife, they are agents too." she rambled, unable to stop the words from flowing from her mouth. "My job was to study soldier body movements and recoveries to see how the serum that you will be given changes all that. I'm sorry to lay this down on you all at once but– I mean, Bucky kissed me."

Steve blinked, his mouth left open.

"Say something Stevie, come on."

Erskine approached the two. "Close your mouth Steven, you are going to catch flies!" Steve shut his mouth, still staring at Ally. He blinked a few more times, still in shock at what his friend had accomplished. Erskine handed Ally a small piece of ripped paper, "That is for you fräulein. Now, come on Steven, we have a procedure to do."

—

"A pretty little dame like you should have a few fans of her own," he lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "Would you like a tour?"