Sorry for the spelling and/or grammatical errors that might have shown in the last Chapter or this Chapter, cause let's face it I won't be able to catch all of them.
Like I said this Chapter is told from another person's P.O.V. Most Chapters will be from Steve's P.O.V but a few will be told in other person's P.O.V, mainly so we can see what they are thinking about. A warning about the Chapters that are told from Steve's P.O.V, I am writing about Steve the way I see him as he is portrayed in the movies and how I interpret them. I am open to suggestions about Steve's personality, really anything that would make him seem more realistic in the eyes of fans or readers.
tate4eva- First let me say, thank you for being the first to leave a review. I also hope that this lives up to your expectations.
LeeForShort- Thank you for being in love with this already, honestly this was not how I originally planned to start the story. But I hope that this Chapter will cause you to fall in love with the story again, or at least the characters.
Re-Cap
Steve Rogers explains to us the early years of his childhood, how me met his two best friends; James Barnes and Serena Dover. Steve explains his ups and downs growing up and how he fell in love with Serena but was to shy to admit it to her. As we get closer to present times Steve is shown being beaten up in an alley way, once again, and Bucky coming to his aid. Bucky tired once again, before he is shipped out to England, to set Steve up with a date; which ends in a disaster. Steve tries his lucky once more in joining the Army, against Bucky's protest.
Serena's P.O.V
Two years after I left America I was thrown into a world that was ruled by fear and chaos, absolute chaos. My father joined the army in the fall of 39' and I followed him later that winter; much to my mother's discontent. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe what the world had come to. Why couldn't we just live in peace? Or at least respect each others way of life. But in all fairness I could see why we had gotten involved. Hitler had declared war on England because we would not yield to his demands, honestly the man was mad.
Three years later, in 1942, I was working as a Liaison Officer for the London base S.S.R to the U.S Army. I was one of only a few females to work as a Liaison Officer otherwise our co-workers were all males. As of right now I was stationed in the U.S, New Jersey to be more exact. I was accompanying Howard Stark, the U.S's top weapon's contractor, and Dr. Abraham Erskine to New York. I was beyond excited. It had been five years since I had last seen my friends. Steve had written to me over the years but recently the letters had become scarce. I could only imagine the trouble that those two had gotten into over the last five years that I was gone. Well more like Steve getting into trouble and Bucky pulling him out of trouble.
"Rena, you coming?" Howard called out for me. I looked away from the stack of letter that I had kept from Steve and over to Howard, who was leaning in the doorway of my room. I rolled my eyes before looking at Howard in the eye.
"Get out of my room Howard," I scolded him as I grabbed something to throw at him. Howard smirked as he dodged the hairbrush I threw at him.
"Hurry it up then sunshine." Howard said as he tossed me back my hairbrush. I rolled my eyes at him once more. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I was off duty but that didn't mean that I wasn't packing, I was wearing a plain dark navy blue dress that reached just below my knees with three-quarter sleeves and plain black t-strap heels. I moved over to the small vanity that the letters were on and quickly put them away in the desk, hidden from view.
"I'm ready." I announced as I came down the stairs. Howard smiled at me and Dr. Erskine offered me his arm, which I accepted gladly. The one good thing about staying in one of Howard's many houses was that it was big enough to lose the man, at least for an hour or so. Howard's butler, Mr. Jarvis as I was told, held open the front door and waited till everyone was outside.
"Where's Peggy?" I asked out loud to no one in particular. Howard climbed into the back seat, offering the front seat to Dr. Erskine.
"Ms. Carter had requested that she be at the Expo when it opened. I drove her about two hours ago Ms. Dover." I smiled at Mr. Jarvis. He was certainly a Brit to the bone. I had insisted that he called me Serena but he never did, so I resolved to call him Mr. Jarvis.
"Thank you Mr. Jarvis, you are quiet helpful." I said as I climbed into the back seat, next to Howard. I was quiet jealous of my friend Agent Peggy Carter. She had the easy job, looking after Dr. Erskine. I on the other hand had to look after the man-child himself, Howard Stark. The world's most notorious playboy. He drove me insane, no doubt about that. I didn't mind it for the most part, seeing that he was truly a good man once you got to know him, but he did have his moments when I wanted to punch him in the face.
"No games, Howard." I warned Howard, knowing that he wouldn't be up to any good if I didn't put my foot down. Dr. Erskine let out a soft chuckle and Howard held up his hands.
"Alright sunshine, I'll say that you're my cousin." Howard said the last part as quickly as he could before I had the chance to glare at him. I let out a frustrated sigh and gave up before another word war started between us.
"Fair enough." I said, though internally I wanted to smack the back of his head.
It was a quiet ride to the Expo, other than Howard making constant remarks about how crowded it was. I rolled my eyes. Would he just stop talking for once in his life? I asked Mr. Jarvis to accompany Howard backstage while I escorted the Doctor to the recruitment center. He still hadn't found the one that he wanted for Project Rebirth and he was starting to test the Colonel's patience instead.
"Good luck Doctor." I wished him. Dr. Erskine smiled at me and gave my clasped hands a gentle, but reassuring, squeeze.
"Thank you my dear." Dr. Erskine said before turning to leave. I slowly made my way over to the stage. Howard was probably getting ready for the presentation of his latest invention and I didn't want to get in the way of that. The man was already air headed enough, he didn't need me making anymore comments about him.
"Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion, and the world of tomorrow, a greater world, a better world." The announcer's recorded voice shouted out over the loud speaker. I heard a large and loud murmur amongst the crowd of people. Soon a crowd of people surge over towards the stage that Howard was on.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark." A female dancer announced Howard's entrance and I just shook my head. The man was full of it, as brilliant as he was he was full of it. He had grabbed the female announcer by the waist and gave her a kiss. I rolled my eyes.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, what if I told you that in a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all." Howard said into the mic. The crowd gasped at the thought of it happening.
"Yes, thanks Mandy." Howard said as the female announcer and the other girls rolled away the wheels on the car that was on display on the stage. I couldn't but roll my eyes at Howard's behavior.
"Never changes," I silently commented as I continued to watch the performance. Howard, though truly brilliant, was quiet stupid at times.
An hour after Howard's presentation I walked backstage to let him know that I was going to go see how Dr. Erskine made out. I warned him that he was not allowed to leave without me or Peggy. To this he responded,
"Yes, mom." I responded with giving him a scowl and a few unladylike words, but who ever said I was a lady? I mean even after living in England for the past five years, changing to fit in, my accent included, I was still a New Yorker in my blood.
"Hello Doctor, were you successful tonight?" I asked Dr. Erskine as I entered the back medical exam room. The curtain was pulled back before I had entered so I had hoped that Dr. Erskine was indeed successful.
"I was my dear. I cannot wait for you to meet him. He is truly a wonderful man." Dr. Erskine said as he packed the last few things into his brief case and smiled at me.
"What's his name?" I asked. I opened the way for Dr. Erskine to lead the way out of the fair. Now that he finally had someone, he believed to be the perfected candidate; the Colonel could finally get off my back.
"Steven Rogers," Dr. Erskine said. I stopped dead in my tracks, my smile no longer on my face.
"Steven Rogers, from Brooklyn Heights?" I asked Dr. Erskine. The Doctor looked at my shocked state, obviously noticing that something was wrong when he said the name, but nodded his head.
"I'm sorry Doctor but which way did he go when he left?" I asked. Dr. Erskine pointed to the left side of the Expo. I didn't wait to explain myself to the Doctor as he called out for me. I could only hope that I wasn't too late in catching Steve before he went home, assuming he still lived in the same apartment.
I ran out of the Expo gates, scanning the crowds as quickly as I could trying to look for the scrawny little punk that also happened to be my best friend. Was he insane?! I thought to myself as I quickly ran after a figure that looked like Steve from behind. Once I caught up to the figure, I quickly realized that it wasn't Steve at all.
"Sorry," I said, then quickly walked away. I once again quickly scanned the large crowd of New Yorkers and came to the conclusion that Steve was already on his way home. My only thought was to get to his apartment before he did. Without thinking I ran back to the area Howard was waiting for me and ordered Mr. Jarvis into the car.
"Hey Sunshine, why you being so pushy?" Howard asked. I glared at him and practically shouted at him to get into the car. Dr. Erskine and Peggy had opted to stay behind, seeing me so uptight was a first for both of them.
"Brooklyn Heights Mr. Jarvis, and please hurry." I ordered Mr. Jarvis. He nearly looked appalled by my request to go to Brooklyn Heights.
"Ms. Dover I should warn you that Brooklyn at this time of night is quiet unsafe for a woman." Mr. Jarvis said, always worried for others safety before his own. It was a trait that I had come to admire from him, even if it did annoy me at times, I knew that he only meant well by it.
"I am well aware of the fact Mr. Jarvis; I used to live there. But I am a grown woman of twenty two, plus I am carrying my weapon. Please hurry." I told Mr. Jarvis. He seemed a little more at ease once I had told him that I was carrying my gun but the concern was still clear on his face as he pulled out of the private parking lot in the back of the Expo. Mr. Jarvis had learned his way around New York quicker that I had expected.
Soon we pulled up to my family's old apartment. The building hadn't changed; in fact much of the block hadn't changed in the six years that I had been gone.
"Stay here; I'll only be a few minutes." I told Mr. Jarvis and Howard as I started to climb out of the car. Before I could make a mad dash up the stairs, Mr. Jarvis opened his door and said,
"Ms. Dover I don't mean to question your safety, but do you really think you should go in there alone?" Mr. Jarvis looked between me and Howard for a moment before I told him that he had best stay with Howard, seeing as if we left Howard on his own he would get into trouble. Mr. Jarvis agreed with my statement and choose to stay with Howard and the car.
As soon as Mr. Jarvis was in the car I turned around and made the mad dash up the stairs and straight to Steve's apartment. I didn't care that it was 10:30 at night. I needed to talk to Steve at once.
I knocked loudly on the old wooden door. I could hear a loud clatter, as though Steve had dropped something, a soft shuffling of feet and a low murmur of Steve's voice. Soon the door opened and I saw a face that I wanted to talk with.
"Steve," I said as soon as the door was open wide enough for me to see his face clearly.
"Ser- Serena?" Steve choked out. For a quick moment my anger was replaced by my concern for Steve. Even though I had been away from him for five years I hadn't forgotten how easily it was for Steve to get sick.
"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice was full of concern for my best friend. Steve, on the other hand, didn't seem to hear my question. His eyes seemed to pop right out of his head when he saw me and he stood there in the door way practically frozen like a statue. It took him a few minutes to regain his composure. He shook his head and grew a smile.
"I'm- I'm fine. Sorry, Rena." I gave him a soft smile when he used my old nickname that only him and Bucky were allowed to call me.
"It's okay," I stepped forward to give him a hug but froze mid-step. Suddenly it dawned on me why I was there in the first place. I pulled back and gave him the cold stare.
"What were you thinking?!" I shouted at him. Steve looked at me like a lost and confused puppy. I let out an angry sigh and rolled my eyes.
"Joining the Army?! Steve are you crazy? They'll kill you in basic training before you actually do anything?" I shouted out once more to my best friend. Steve, still standing in the door way, smiled at my sheepishly. I shook my head and marched into his apartment. I didn't care. I had done it many times before and I wouldn't let the last six years stand in the way of that. I heard Steve shut the door behind me as I continued to walk towards the middle of the room but as I walked I noticed a few pieces of silverware on the floor. Steve must have been doing the dishes when I knocked, scaring him and causing him to drop them on the floor.
"How'd you know that I joined the Army?" Steve asked. I turned around and glared at him. That was his response, no excuses, no defense statements, just 'How'd you know?'
"Are you not listening to me Steve!?" I wanted to rip my hair out because of him. "Why did you join the Army? Do you want to be the runt of the unit!?" I shouted out. Instantly I bit down on my lower lip. I hadn't meant for that to come out harsh. I was just worried. Steve's my best friend, I know how ease it was for him to get sick and with his asthma it would practically be impossible for him to keep up with the rest of the boys in his unit.
"I didn't mean that Steve." I said softly. Steve finally looked up at me and saw that I was truly worried for him.
"I know Rena. You and Bucky worry too much over me. But this is my choice. Rena I finally have a chance to make a difference in the world and I want to take that opportunity. I've got no less of a right to do what others had done for the war." Steve said as he walked closer to me and grabbed my hands. I had to admit that it felt great having Steve hold my hands once more. Ever since freshmen year in High School I had developed a major crush on him. But he barely seemed to notice, so I stuck with being his best friend, other than Bucky.
"I know that Steve. It's just, ... I still see you as the little asthmatic six year old that lived the floor below me. And I don't want anything to happen to you. Steve you're my best friend and I can't imagine my life without you." I said. Tears started to form in my eyes; even as I cursed them to stay back they started to slip. Steve placed his hand on my cheek and whipped away the tears as they fell. He pulled me in for a hug, to which I made no objections. Steve was the same height as me so the hug wasn't awkward at all. I smiled as the tears started to subside.
I felt safe in Steve's hug. His arms weren't big and bulky, like some of the other guys I'd known, but that's what I always thought was special about my Steve. He wasn't strong physically but he was strong in other ways. He was always willing to stand up for the smaller guys, even if he was the smaller one physically.
"Don't think like that Rena, I'll always be here, just like you have always been there for me when I needed it most." Steve said, smirking slightly as he made me look him in his eyes. I gave him and smile and pulled him in for another hug. We stayed like that for a few more moments before finally letting go of one another. I took the chance to really look at Steve. He had most definitely grown but not by much, height-wise at least, his hair had grown a little longer; he seemed to have gained several more pounds since I last saw him, which was always a good thing. But overall he was still the scrawny little school boy that I knew and loved from the beginning.
I excused myself from Steve's company and walked down the stairs to the front door. Mr. Jarvis and Howard were still waiting for me. I walked over to them and told them that they could go and pick up Peggy and the Doctor.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Tell Peggy that I'll be back in the morning." I told Mr. Jarvis. He looked at me like a was crazy for planning to spend the night in this neighborhood but I ordered him to leave, much to Howard's delight. He didn't seem to like the vibe of the neighborhood either, but for me it was home.
I walked back up the stairs in let myself into Steve's apartment with the spare key, still hidden under the loose brick outside his doorway.
"You know you should probably find a new hiding spot for this," I said as I walked in and handed him the key. Steve smiled at me and nodded his head. He left the key on the small coffee table.
"You and Bucky have said the same thing." Steve said. I sat down on the old beat up couch in the middle of his living room and looked up at Steve, who was standing in front of me.
"Come on, sit next to me. You are going to tell me what I miss out on in the last five years that I was gone." I told Steve. Steve did as he was told and sat down next to me on the couch. And that was how I spent the rest of my evening. At my best friend's apartment as he told me the tales of his adventures and how Bucky always ended up pulling his ass out of the fire. 'Somethings,' I thought, 'never change.'
So once again sorry about all the jumping around in the beginning with Serena's back story. I just wanted to fast-ward the last six years of her life since she left New York and moved to England.
To clear up small confusions, Serena does have a British Accent but she does slip back into her American Accent when she's around other American's. It's kind of like a switch that flips on and off. The British culture and lifestyle did rub off on her but as I have been told, once a New Yorker always a New Yorker. It's not easy to rid yourself of your roots.
If you have anymore questions that I have not already answered, either in the story or in the pretext paragraphs, please feel free to PM me or leave a review.