GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
{Author's Note: Wow! Thank you so much for the favourites/alerts/follows & to LilyMayRose for the lovely review. I will update this story regularly if it gets enough interest (I tend to update daily). Next chapter will be moved forward. This story will differ loosely to the movies in some respects, as I want to put in more Steve/Rosie ;). Enjoy my lovelies! Please read and review x}
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the character(s) you don't recognise.
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{BETTY'S DINER| BROOKLYN| 1942}
Steve was the epitome of a perfect gentleman.
He'd have faultless manners by always insisting on pulling out my chair for me and making sure that I was comfortable before he settled down.
It would always make me smile, as no matter how many times I told him that I should be the one helping him, he'd dismiss me and say that I was a lady, and ladies deserve to be respected.
I'd then blush and be thankful that my brother weren't there to tease me over it.
"So," Steve smiled at me boyishly as he shifted in his own chair to get comfortable, "You look great. I have to admit that I was a little worried about you going away for such a long time."
I smiled in return, "You and James worry too much Steve, the only danger was when Howard Stark came to visit so that he could inspect the planes and what we were working with."
"Howard Stark?" Steve raised an eyebrow in shock as he chuckled, "He seems to be everywhere lately."
"Well, he definitely was everywhere there too…" I giggled at the shocked expression on his face, "Sorry, I'm used to the humour of my flight co-ordinator. He was not the biggest fan of Howard Stark…I believe it had something to do with the words: affair, wife and untouchable."
Steve sighed as he shook his head gently, "I don't understand men like him. I mean, he is a genius, and valuable to the war effort, but does he need to cause problems?"
I looked at him closely before replying softly, "Not everyone is as respectful as you Steve. We can not even blame the ladies; Howard Stark is not without his certain…charms."
"Charms?" Steve had stopped inspecting the menu board above the kitchenette counter to give me a concerned look, "Marilyn-"
The chastising tone in his voice had caused me to sigh inwardly before deciding to act innocent and play a joke on him.
I hated it when they used my first name, mostly because whenever they did, it was because they believed I was not doing what I should.
He and James would always watch me closely whenever I were around men, so, now that they don't know what I got up to during my time in England; well, it was fun to get my own back.
"Yes, Steve?" I widened my eyes innocently as I smiled sweetly, "I think that I will have the pimento cheese sandwiches, you?"
He was still trying to comprehend what I had just told him as I tried not to laugh at the alarmed expression on his face.
"You…and…Howard Stark?"
I couldn't help myself, as I erupted into a fit of unladylike giggles that I knew were attracting the attention of everyone that sat in the diner.
"Oh, Steve. I would never be with a man like Howard Stark. Sure, he's handsome, charming, and would show me things that otherwise I would never get the chance to see…but he's not really husband material. Then again, am I really wife material?"
A deep blush tinted Steve's cheeks as he chuckled in relief, "Thank God, I just don't want you to be-"
"Know what you want?"
A waitress came over with a forced and wary smile, cutting off what Steve was about to tell me.
"Yes, sorry…can we have two pimento cheese sandwiches and, two orange juices please?" He looked up at her expectantly before waiting for her to leave as he indicated to my newly dyed raven hair that had been cut to just above my shoulders to accentuate the loose waves.
"You have cut your hair?"
I smiled excitedly, bring my hands up to ruffle my hair, "You like it? James was shocked at first. But, times are changing. On the base, there was a woman-Ruth-who could style hair, and she cut it for me. Not to mention that when piloting an aircraft, you do not want to have hair obstructing your view."
Steve tilted his head to the left slightly as if seeing me for the very first time.
"I like it…"
"Here's your food!" Once again the waitress had cut him off only to slam the plates and glasses down in front of us before sighing and stomping off in aggravation.
I knew why she was so worked up and upset.
The war was only just beginning for us in America, but it was starting to take its toll on daily life.
Rationing leaflets had been posted through our mailboxes this morning and recruitment offices had been set up on every street corner.
We had only just declared war a couple of months previous after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, but now things were about to get ugly.
I had been in England for a little over a year now and saw terrifying atrocities with civilians struggling and fearing for their lives and homes.
It broke my heart.
"Are you feeling okay?" Steve had stopped eating his sandwich to look at me in concern, "England must have been rough…"
"It was." I replied back simply before tearing off a piece of my sandwich and popping it into my mouth.
"God, Steve. So many people are dying, and for what? It seems so surreal to be sitting here having lunch with you."
He paused before reaching over the table and placing his right hand over mine, "You are back home with us; that is all that matters."
I smiled tiredly, "You are right, can I have your tomatoes? I really missed them when I was away…"
Steve chuckled as he nodded and pushed his plate towards me, "You missed tomatoes?"
"Oh, and you and James of course! But it's the tomatoes that I'm doing this for." I grinned before delicately eating them and pushing the plate back to him, "You look good by the way! I like your new shirt…"
"This? It's just something I picked up for date nights" He looked down at himself before picking up his sandwich and taking a huge bite out of it.
"Date nights?"
This strange pang of jealousy resonated through my chest as I busied myself with picking apart the sandwich instead of looking at him.
I put it down to being protective of him and not wanting to see him get hurt; but that was only a part of it.
Steve seemed completely oblivious to my change in mood, as he nodded, "Bucky insists that I accompany him on the double dates, though if I'm being honest, I find it awkward and I can tell exactly how the date will go before I even meet her."
The heartache behind his words would render anyone speechless.
Here was a man who had so much love and affection to give, but never gets an opportunity to show it.
"They don't know what they're missing." I finally managed to look up at him and smile comfortingly.
"No woman would want a man who is more fragile than them Rosie. That is fine though, I understand."
"You should never have to understand. You are a sweet man Steven Rogers! You would never be disloyal or abusive to your lover, you would respect and love her; what woman could deny herself that?"
Steve smiled at me sadly, "A woman who wants a man like every other?"
"Well, I don't." I smiled back at him, "Remember what I always say to you?"
"Wait and find the right partner…" He answered me back with an affectionate look behind his eyes.
"Exactly…" I half-whispered the word.
The air around started to thicken with tension as I knew that I couldn't let myself go down that road with Steve.
He was my brother's best friend; I grew up with him.
It would be wrong…but oh, so right.
"Hey! Pimento cheese! I love this!"
Both of us snapped out of our silent reverie by the loud voice of my brother who had managed to find us and was now picking at my sandwich.
"James!" I swatted at his hands, "You have just put your dirty hands in my food!"
He scoffed, "My hands were clean when I left the Doctors!"
Steve froze, "You've been to the Doctors? Does that mean-"
I heard my brother sigh as he shook his head in wariness at Steve, "It's just to see if I'm eligible Steve, no one is saying that I'll get accepted."
"Accepted? What are you two talking about?" I looked between them both in concern, "James?"
"They are wanting me to enlist Rosie, and nothing is concrete just yet, but…the Doc thinks that they'd take me."
"What?!" I gasped out as a sinking feeling began in the pit of my stomach.
I was scared over what could happen to my brother if he were to be sent away.
"James-"
He sighed, "Rosie, I know what you are going to say, and it is nothing new to what I told you, remember?"
I nodded, "I remember…"
Steve looked as though he was deep in his own thoughts, as James slapped his hands down on both of our shoulder blades.
"Come on, we are not dead yet! Why don't we go to the movies or something? That Walt Disney movie is out right? Bambi I think it is called…"
"You want to see Bambi?" I found myself laughing at his excitement.
"Why not? Could be good. You liked Snow White…"
I knew that he was trying to distract me in order to not have me be worried too much over his future enlistment.
But, he was right about enjoying what time we had together.
Not to mention that I also loved Walt Disney's animated films.
Steve had chosen that moment to smile and nod, "That does sound like fun, what is it about?"
James shrugged, "Some animal I think…"
I stood up, playfully pretending to look annoyed, "You know that it is about a deer."
"Yeah, an animal!" He grinned cheekily before draping an arm around my shoulder, "Come on Rosie, there's a showing in ten minutes."
My eyebrow raised, "You knew that I'd be upset over you enlisting, so you checked out when there would be showings didn't you?"
James faked looking indignant, "No! I just saw it in the newspaper…" He threw Steve a secretive wink before helping me navigate around his chair.
"Oh! I need to pay-"
"You are not going to pay Rosie."
Steve had taken a little longer to stand up carefully and push his chair back in, as he took out a few notes and left them on the table, "It was my treat."
I would be lying if I didn't admit that I found him to be a sweetheart.
"Thank you…" I leant over to kiss his cheek before linking arms with both him and James, "Do you think that they are repeating showings of Snow White too?"
