3rd Person's POV

A pretty W.A.C., PVT Lorraine, reads Stars & Stripes: "P.O.W. Camp Liberated, Miracle Trek Across Enemy Lines."

"Excuse me, I was looking for Mr. Stark?"

Lorraine answers without looking up, "I think he went to look for a broom."

After a moment of silence, she looks up to see the real-life Steve standing over her. She slips into a smile.

"Of course, you're welcome to wait."

Steve sits, hesitant. Lorraine swivels in her chair and Steve watches as her legs cross.

"I read about what you did."

Steve shrugs, "Oh, I was just doing what needed to be done."

"Sounded like more than that. You saved nearly two hundred men."

Steve's face tinges pink lightly, "Really it wasn't a big thing."

"Tell that to their wives." Lorraine stares at him dreamily.

"I... don't think they were all married." Steve frowns while holding his chin completely oblivious to Lorraine's flirting.

"You're a hero."

Despite himself, Steve smiles, "Well, maybe. Depending on whose definition."

"The women of America owe you their thanks."

Lorraine stands up glancing around then walks to the front of the desk standing infront of Steve, "And seeing as they're not here..."

Steve's eyes go wide as she leans and kisses him. He stiffens then gives in. When they come up for air, they see Sammie standing by the desk. Lorraine leaps back, flustered. Sammie just stares coldly.

"Captain. We're ready for you... if you're not otherwise occupied."

Steve frowns. She had never called him that before. He didn't like it the way she had said it.

As she stalks down the hallway, Steve lightly pushes aside Lorraine and runs after her.

"Sammie! Wait a second!"

She doesn't break stride. Finally, Steve catches up to her. His heart drops as she gives him the coldest stare.

"Looks like finding a partner wasn't that hard after all."

"Sammie. That wasn't what you thought it was."

"I don't think anything, Captain. Not one thing."

She continues toward a metal door at the end of the hall then turns around and glares at him, "You wanted to be a soldier. Now you are one. Just like all the rest. Exactly like the ones at the expo... and I thought you would be different."

Steve stops, flustered and upset as she spins around and keeps walking.

"Well what about you and Stark? How do I know what you two haven't been... fonduing the whole time?"

Sammie whips around, cold.

"You still don't understand a darn thing about women."

She storms down a corridor. Steve watches her too, at a loss.

"Fondue's just cheese and bread, my friend."

Steve turns to see Howard Stark grimacing as he stands in the now-open metal door.

"And it looks to me like she thinks you've got a lot more going for you than that."

Howard leads Steve across his brand new lab. Stark's techs unwrap and install futuristic machines. Workers replace the blast-shattered windows. Mechanics tuneup a motorcycle.

Steve looks over surprised at Howard, "Really, I didn't think-"

"Nor should you, pal. The minute you think you know what's in a woman's head is the minute your goose is well and truly cooked."

Howard stops Steve at a collection of high-tech fabrics, "Me, I concentrate on work. Which at the moment is making sure you and your men don't get killed."

He unrolls an impressive gray metallic weave.

"Carbon polymer. Ought to hold its own against your average German bayonet. Of course, Hydra's not likely to come at you with a pocket knife..."

He turns to Steve's battered shield lying on a worktable, "I hear you're sort of attached."

Steve presses his finger to a bullet hole, "It's handier than you might think."

"So's the hotel chambermaid, but I wouldn't taker her into battle."

He pulls up a cart with a number of shields, some built, some half-finished.

"I took the liberty of coming up with a few options. This one's fun. It's fitted with transistorized relays."

Steve pulls out a plain, round shield from the bottom shelf. He spins it between his palms. It's light, balanced. Steve pings the simple shield. It rings like a bell.

"What about this one?"

Howard frowns, "Oh, that's just a prototype. Now this one-"

"What's it made of?" Steve asks still looking at the same shield.

"Vibranium. Stronger than steel and a third of the weight."

Steve slides the shield onto his arm.

Howard continues, "It's completely vibration absorbent. Should make a bullet like a cotton ball."

Behind them an angry, Peggy enters with a red-eyed Sammie behind her.

Steve glances over at the two then looks back at Howard, "How come it's not standard issue?"

"It's the rarest metal on earth. You're holding all we've got."

Peggy reaches them, icy as Sammie stays by the door.

"Are you about finished, Mr. Stark? I'm sure the Captain has some unfinished business."

Steve smiles. She doesn't. He lifts the shield.

"What do you think?"

Peggy looks at him, expressionless. Then she turns to a table of guns, picks one up and fires at Steve's chest.

BLAM, BLAM, BLAM.

He blocks them with the shield. The slugs flatten and plink to the ground.

"I think it works."

She stalks out of the room with Sammie following. Steve and Howard them leave... then keeping watching the door for a long moment.

............................................................................................................................................................................

A knock wakes me up as I doze off to sleep. I don't turn around to see who it is. I just lay underneath my covers looking at the wall.

"It's for you Sams..."

I turn around slowly to see Steve standing by Peggy who has her arms folded.

"I'll be back. Call me if you need anything... and I mean anything."

I laugh quietly to myself as Steve's eyes widen seeing Peggy pull her finger across her neck then point at him. She smiles at me then closes the door.

Silence fills the room as Steve and I stare at each other. I see regret and pain in his eyes as he opens his mouth to speak but closes it.

"What do you want Steve?"

Steve smiles lightly, "Oh so it's Steve now... not Captain."

The smile on his face quickly disappears as he sees my cold expression.

"Steve don't make me kick you out."

"Alright I'm sorry Sam... I sincerely apologize doll. I didn't know what fondue was... I thought it was- you know."

I smile and sit up as he shifts uncomfortably.

"You thought what? That fondue was sex Steve?"

"Ugh why do you have to be so vulgar like Bucky?" Steve groans and sits beside me on my bed.

"I'm sorry twinkle toes... Steve I am in no way interested in Howard Stark. He is literally like an annoying older brother. Really annoying."

Steve sighs in relief, "Oh well that's good."

He looks over and sees my upset face and frowns, "What? Why are you still upset with me? I apologized."

"Doesn't matter... you still made out with Lorraine the home wrecker."

Steve smiles and chuckles to himself, "I'm really sorry. I didn't know she was flirting with me. And I didn't know she would kiss me either. Of course it's my fault I kissed back... with me being upset about you and Stark and me not having any experience whatsoever I kind of got in the moment. I'm sorry I hurt you doll. If I can make it up to you... I will... I promise."

I sigh trying not to smile while looking at his cute face.

"Plus you liked me before I changed. You talked to me... You believed in me. Why would I want to give that up?"

I smile up at him and shrug. He puts his hand on my knee and rubs his thumb across it. We both in sit in silence once again looking at each other.

"So Steve that was your first kiss?" I whisper while moving slightly closer to him.

"Um yes. It wasn't that great if I'm being honest."

"Would you like a redo?" I ask as I caress his face.

His breath stops for a second as his eyes touch every spot on my face.

"With her or with you?"

Looking up into his mischievous eyes, I realize my sassiness is slowly rubbing off onto him.

"Oh shut up and kiss me Captain."

As our lips collide, fireworks go off in my head. His soft lips take the lead as a light sigh leaves my body. His strong large hands grip onto my waist as I move onto his lap. The kiss begins to get deeper and more intense. As my hands lightly pull on his golden locks, a deep groan comes from him making me moan.

"Ah!"

I fall to the floor as Steve stands up then quickly grabs a pillow and holds it infront of his pants. We both look up at the door to see Peggy and Howard laughing. Peggy walks over to her bed and grabs her notebook then walks back to the door.

"Well leave a sock on the door why don't ya?" She laughs as she closes the door.

"Bye!" I yell hoping she'll leave faster.

The door closes and I burst out laughing seeing Steve still frozen.

"You okay there big guy?"

He nods and sits down on my bed, "Yeah just do you mind if I just stay here and calm down."

I laugh as he lays back still not moving the pillow away from his pants, "Sure Steve."

"Thank you."

I nod and lay down beside him. I lay my head on his shoulder and my hand falls flat on his stomach.

"Sammie..."

"Yes Steve?"

"You're not helping..."

I glance up at him and smile, "Oh right. Sorry."

Moving away, I lay with my hands and legs to myself. Together Steve and I lay side by side, staring at the ceiling. I smile and look over at Steve with mischievous eyes.

"So you wanna fondue?"