Chapter Three – The Legacy of Etta Candy

Steve hated to admit it but he could see her life fading from her and her happiness drop each time someone reported on this new Wonder Woman. He hadn't wanted for this to happen. Really, all that he had wanted to do was help her and to save her, he would do anything for her. Still, Athena was different than Diana was and even if they had both started as the same person, that didn't mean their lives hadn't taken two separate paths.

Steve walked over to Athena as he saw her sitting by the window in their new living room. He passed her a cup of tea, a kind that he knew she liked, and sat down opposite her. His eyes rested upon her face. She was glamorous and gorgeous and he wanted her to become even stronger and more beautiful, the taste of her kisses was rich to him and he needed to find a way to sustain her.

As for himself, he could pick up the pieces of his life and carry on. He could become a war historian or maybe even a lecturer, maybe work at a museum and use his experiences to boost his career in that field. Or maybe, after some time had passed, he could return to the air force. He didn't like war but he loved the feeling of flight and protecting others.

"Steve," Athena asked as she tried to smile, "I…would it be selfish for me to speak freely?" she asked him and Steve took a deep breath in before bowing his head. He hoped that it wouldn't come out as Athena telling him that since she was different, she needed to be part of a different relationship. He didn't know if he could ever get over the pain that losing his angel would bring to him.

"It wouldn't be," he told her before holding her hand and bringing it to his lips, "Whatever you desire, angel. I will do whatever I can to give you what you de-"

"I would prefer not to go back into nursing," she said and Steve blinked before nodding slowly. "I do like to help others but I do not…my body is pulling me in a different direction. I hope that is okay."

"That's okay," Steve smiled to her. "That's more than okay. So, if not nursing, what kind of profession would you like?" he asked and Athena looked out at the world before closing her eyes. She wanted to help others but she wanted to do it as a superhero, she missed the boots and the lasso, she missed that feeling of being safe, of the security that her powers gave her.

"Maybe a police officer," she told him and Steve slowly nodded. "Would that be…"

"You would do amazingly," he tried to assure her. With the way she looked now, she definitely didn't look like how the stereotypical police officer looked but he could understand that want to help people and that's what a regular person who didn't grow up on Thymescira did, they worked in law enforcement. "Besides, that other woman isn't really you, they aren't really Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is a lore that is passed down and it is because of you."

"It is just not who I am any longer," Diana told him and Steve sighed. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. They would have to rely on one another for this and it didn't matter to him that his angel looked different on the outside, it was the inside that was most important.

…

…

Athena had wanted to do this herself. Steve had of course asked her numerous times if she wanted for him to escort her here, to accompany her and Athena knew that as kind as his offer was, she had to do it for herself. She looked at the Candy house and sighed. She wasn't even sure if Etta was still alive and even if she was, Athena had no idea how her health would be.

She knocked on the door to hear a baby crying and took a step back. Maybe she had gotten the wrong house. She looked away nervously, she had to come up with an excuse to why she was there, some kind of reason. She closed her eyes and the door was opened by a woman in her twenties.

"Hello," she asked and Athena took a step back. She looked around before her eyes caught on something hanging up in a glass case. How could the golden lasso be here? "May I help you?" she asked and Athena shifted.

"Etta Candy, does Etta live here?" she asked and the woman nodded.

"Yes, my grandmother lives here," she said as she took a step outside with the baby who was clinging to her chest wanting nourishment. "How can we help you?" she asked as she attempted to not show any sign of shock or confusion. Athena smiled quietly to herself.

"Ask her to use that lasso on me, we were friends during the war time," she said and the woman stared at her with even greater bewilderment. Athena knew that by looking at her body it would seem a little ridiculous to think that she had lived for such a long time and people wouldn't think twice about denying worm holes and time travel to be a thing but the Diana within her wanted to spend time with her important friend.

"Celia, dear," an old woman said as she rolled herself forwards and Athena grinned as she saw how Etta had matured into this wise elderly woman. She smiled at her friend before realizing that she wouldn't know who she was.

"Hello, Etta," Athena smiled and Etta blinked, she could see the familiarity but accepting Athena in this body was harder. Even Diana had trouble accepting Athena when she looked into the mirror, the person who had had the least trouble with it had been Steve, her Steve.

"Steve and I just arrived but not in my body," Diana said and Etta blinked hard. "I'm sorry that we couldn't all travel together but I'm glad to see the happy home and happy life that you have here. You would remember me as Diana," she said with a hand to her chest and the older Etta stared at her in deep confusion before wheeling herself back to fetch the lasso.

Athena closed her eyes ready for the interrogation and put her wrist out. She looked into Etta's familiar eyes and smiled. She knew that if she had had to meet Steve as an older man then she would have fallen in love with him all over again despite the age.

"So now," Etta told her with a smile, "Tell me truly dear, who are you?"

Athena watched her, gazing into those friendly and loving eyes once more before bowing her head. "My true name is Diana, I am the princess of Thymescira but I have had my body changed by unforeseen forces. I am living in this world now as Athena."

As she said this, Etta's mouth widened into a smile. She reached up and Diana embraced her old and treasured friend. Hopefully things would be okay between them because Athena wanted to know all about how Etta's life had turned out because looking at the family members who had gathered around them, it appeared to be wonderful.

…

…

Steve looked around the coffee shop that was near the apartment. He had wanted to go with Athena to visit Etta but when he had heard her reasons for wanting to make the trip by herself, he had let her go. He wasn't going to be one of those men that stand in the woman's way and he didn't want for Athena to let him slip like that.

As for now, he was looking into the papers to see if there were any openings in law enforcement. What type of degree did you need for that anyway or was it a certification? Did she have to pick a precinct or would that be found for her? There was so much that Steve didn't understand but because Diana wanted to do it, he wanted it for her.

He sighed and picked up the cup of coffee beside him. Coffee had gotten a lot better in the time that had passed, he did have to admit that. Steve reached for the pastry before seeing someone standing in front of him and he blinked. He looked up and saw the glasses-wearing man.

"Clark Kent," he said as he held out his hand and Steve had a troubling feeling of dejavu. "I've come to talk about Athena," he said with a boy scout smile and Steve narrowed his eyes feeling a little defensive as he studied him.

"How do you know about Athena?" he asked slowly.

End of Chapter Three

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