Shape into a spindle

Question

Start with a way
to merge what you choose
Hope not too short
for you to lose

Then a short delay
Wait there if you may
Take one more step
For an aeon you'll stay

Who am I?

Hint #1:

The first 4 lines gives two clues for the same part of the answer.

Hint #2

The title refers to its etymology

Hint #3

The answer is 8 letters long.

Hint #4

I can be found in the sky if not on the ground.

Hint #5

As a Riley riddle, the first four lines refer to the prefix, the fifth line is the infix and the last line hints the suffix. Only the infix and suffix overlap

Answer 1

The answer is

fuselage

Start with a way \ to merge what you choose

Hope not too short \ for you to lose

fuse - can mean merge; alternatively a short fuse could cause problems =)

Then a short delay

lag - a lag is a short delay

Wait there if you may \ Take one more step \ For an aeon you'll stay

age - an age is an aeon, and is one step over from lag in the solution

Regarding the title:

the latin for spindle is 'fusus.' It came to us via French 'fuseler,’ meaning ’shape into a spindle’. I suppose the fuselage of a plane is somewhat spindle shaped. In biology and botany, spindle shaped objects are called fusiform, which sent me in the right direction. =)

Answer 2

I haven't figured it all out but I think the answer is

Coleoptera

Start with a way

Col = the lowest point of a ridge between two peaks, typically providing a pass (a way) from one side of a mountain range to another.

to merge what you choose

Opt = make a choice.
We merge 'col' with 'opt' using the letter 'e'

Hope not too short

The merge point is a single letter.

for you to lose

Not sure about the loss part here, maybe referring to the negative charge of the electron, referred to by the letter 'e'

Then a short delay
Wait there if you may

Not sure about these lines but it may refer to the fact that it is quite common to abbreviate Coleoptera to Coleopt.

Take one more step

Next letters.

For an aeon you'll stay

Era - a long and distinct period of history.

Title

Many beetles may be described as distinctly spindle-shaped.

Answer 3

You might be

stitching fabric with thread using a sewing machine

Start with a way
to merge what you choose

Depending on the type of stitch, 2 threads could be used
Or you are choosing fabrics to combine

Hope not too short
for you to lose

If your thread runs short, the stitch will be lost

Then a short delay
Wait there if you may

As the thread progresses through the stitch, it waits for the next stitch to pass through it

Take one more step
For an aeon you'll stay

The stitched together fabric will stay together for a long time

Thoughts

I have a couple of answers that fit but there may also be wordplay involved (aeon, the use of time) that could possibly point to Einstein and spacetime. Example being, space and time woven together to form the fabric of space and time. (So, the answer could also be possibly God stitching a tear in the fabric of time and space.)

However, if this is a Riley Riddle, disregard everything I said. :)