Author's note: A brief back story on Steve from his own POV.

Summary: First loves never last. That doesn't mean your second love won't.

Before Bucky, it was Sharon. Sharon Carter. Long blonde wavy hair, confident stature, and could hold her own beer better than anyone. God was Steve head over heels for her at the time. Peggy had introduced her as her cousin, and when Steve laid eyes upon her he knew he was screwed.

All throughout high school Steve gaped and stared at Sharon. He had no idea how to approach her, let alone talk to her! Steve hadn't always been the big, beefy guy he was now. When he was younger, he was a stick-thin kid with a pair of bad lungs. Not to mention the target of every bully in school. It wasn't until high school that Steve started working out a bit. He finally out-grew his asthma, and soon all the girls were giving him goo-goo eyes. But that still didn't mean Steve knew how to talk to women.

Peggy was constantly badgering him about when he was gonna make his move, but Steve never did. Even after they graduated from high school, college, and then moved on with their own separate lives, Steve never did make his move. He never told Sharon how he felt about her.

It wasn't until the night before his deployment overseas that Peggy called him up and started hounding him.

"Steve, you have to tell her."

Steve rolled his eyes as he cradled the receiver between his ear and shoulder. "Peggy, you know I can't."

"And why not?"

"Because I'm going to Iraq tomorrow! I'm not gonna do that to Sharon. I'm not gonna make her wait a year, maybe two (little did he know it would be three)."

"I still think you should tell her," Peggy insisted. "I mean what, she's just gonna go through life not knowing that the guy she's known since HIGH SCHOOL is in love with her and she'll—"

"Peggy," Steve said finally, taking the receiver back in his hands. Peggy stopped her ranting.

Steve rubbed his face and sighed. "I just… I can't. I'm going out tomorrow. I just can't." As an afterthought he added, "Besides, she only thinks of me as a brother. Nothing more. How am I supposed to start a relationship with her if that's all she sees me as?"

"…"

"Hey, you still there?"

"I just think it's sad, okay?" Peggy said all of a sudden. "That a guy who can stand up to bullies and isn't afraid to take a punch for someone can't even confess to the girl he loves. Think about it Steve. Do you really wanna continue things like this and then regret it years later?" And with that she hung up the phone.

"Nice talking to you too," Steve muttered. He pressed the end button and rested his head on the counter. Maybe the cold would soften his brain out and help him think. Yes, Peggy was right. He should confess. He should've confessed, all those ago when they were still young and didn't know what to do with their lives yet. Maybe they would even be high school sweethearts by now. Steve rolled his forehead around, contemplating what to do.

Thirty minutes went by before he shot up in his seat and started punching the buttons on his phone. He brought the receiver up to his ear and waited. His heart was pounding, and he could feel a bead of sweat rolling down the side of his face.

After six rings, Steve almost decided to hang up when the line finally went through.

"Hello?"

Steve sat up straighter. "S-Sharon? Hey, it's… it's Steve."

"Steve! Hey, what are you calling so late at night for? Don't you head out tomorrow?"

He laughed nervously. "Yeah, I do. I didn't think you'd remember."

"Remember? Please, it's all Peggy will talk about." She paused. "You know, Peggy may not show it but she really is going to miss you."

"I know. I'm going to miss her too. And you, of course," he added quickly.

Sharon laughed, her voice bouncing off the walls in the background. "Yeah Steve, me too."

They both laughed, giving Steve time to settle out his nerves. He took a deep breath before continuing.

"Um, Sharon? Listen, uh—"

"Hold on a minute Steve. I'll be right there honey!"

Honey?

"Sorry, what were you saying?"

"Oh, uh, nothing. Uh, sorry is this a bad time?"

"Oh no it's nothing, don't worry about it! I'm just with Brock that's all," Sharon said absentmindedly.

Brock Rumlow? Steve swallowed slowly. Brock Rumlow was a guy Sharon had dated on and off again in college. After a certain incident, Sharon had made sure to break things off completely with him once and for all.

"That's just kind of guy Brock is. Commitment scares him," Sharon had said at the time.

If that was the case, then what was she doing with Brock Rumlow.

"Brock uh… Brock kind of… proposed to me?" Sharon said uncertainly.

Steve blinked. Propose? Propose as in marry? Propose as in the ring, cake and bridal gown thing?

"The ring's actually pretty beautiful, now that I'm looking at it." Right, that kind of propose.

"T-that's great Sharon," Steve said in the best falsetto voice he could manage. "Really, that's.. wow. That's awesome. Congratulations. Wow."

"Yeah. Great huh? Anyways, Brock is calling me back. You were going to say something right?"

Steve was going to say something, until he heard 'propose' and his dreams practically shattered in front of his eyes. "Uhh, no, I was just… I was just gonna say bye. And I'll miss you! You know, Iraq and… everything."

"Aww Steve that's so sweet of you. I'll miss you too. Be safe out there, kay? And make sure to come back home in one piece. I know how reckless you can get sometimes."

"Right. Yeah, I will Sharon… take care of yourself."

"You too Steve." She hung up first.

Steve dropped the phone against his side, with his shoulders hunched and a blank look on his face. Sharon was getting married. Brock had proposed to her. He had proposed.

Steve brought the phone up again and dialed Peggy's number.

"Hey, Peg? You were right."

And now, approximately three years later, Steve was watching his boyfriend hobble about the apartment. Steve figured since he was in the area, he might as well drop by Bucky's. Bucky hadn't expected it, despite it being a nice surprise and all. Now he was trying to frantically straighten up the place.

But honestly, Steve really didn't care. He just couldn't stand how cute his boyfriend (he was never going to get used to the word) was as he tried to fluff up the couch pillows and throw his spare clothes into the bedroom. Steve had assured him that it was fine, really. But Bucky being Bucky, he couldn't help it. There was a goofy smile on Steve's face. He really just wanted to hug Bucky right now.

He jumped at the sudden vibration from his back pocket. He reached behind to grab his phone and saw Sharon's face appear on the screen. He almost did a double take. He looked up to find Bucky still weaving in and out of the apartment, giving him enough time to tiptoe quietly out the front door.

"Uh, hello? Sharon?" He answered once he was safely outside.

"Steve! Hey, long time no see," Sharon said easily.

"Uh, yeah, it really has. W-what's going on?"

Sharon paused before taking a faltering breath. "Um, well. Sorry this is going to sound so weird. But um. Brock and I we.. we're taking a little time off from each other. Just a small separation. Nothing too major or anything."

From what Peggy had told him, Sharon and Brock got married sometime around his second tour. He gathered the marriage was going well, but he hadn't contacted Sharon since coming home.

"Geez, Sharon I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Steve rubbed the back of his head. He didn't know how to really comfort her. Three years ago he was horrified at the idea of them getting married. And now…

"Yeah, I'm okay. We just figured it was for the best. We both want different things so.." Her voice trailed off.

"Wait, Sharon. Why are you calling me then?" He asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?"

"Uh, I mean! No, sorry that's not what it meant to sound like. I'm just, well, wouldn't you normally call Peggy? Or something..?" He really didn't mean for it to come out so harsh. It's just of all people, he didn't expect Sharon to call him.

"Actually, Peggy may have told me something a while ago that I've been juggling around for a bit now."

Uh-oh. That didn't sound good.

"She told me something about your undying love for me?" Oh no. "And that it's been going on since high school?"

Steve almost dropped his cell phone. "Er, really now! Did she.. ha-ha um. Well, no. That's not exactly.. wrong. Uh. Yes. I might have had a small crush on you. In high school. But um I'm kind of seeing someone? Right now? And it's pretty serious?"

"You are?" Sharon asked in surprise.

"Uh, yeah. His name is Bucky. He's actually a war veteran. Like me. So it, you know. Makes the process easier."

"Oh. Well that's great Steve! Good for you. I'm really glad you found someone. That's great. I'm happy for you." Was it just his imagination or did Sharon sound a little disappointed at that?

"Thanks. I'm—" He cleared his throat. "—We're really happy."

"Good. That's good. Hey, listen I should probably be getting back now. Got a lotta work piling up. So, see you around maybe?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah, maybe lunch or something."

"Sure. Bye Steve. Take care."

Steve had to lean against the wall while he sorted out his thoughts. What exactly had just happened? He took a breath and tried to compose himself before going back into the apartment.

He hadn't even gotten two feet in when he was assaulted in a bear hug.

Steve blinked down at the mess of brown hair. "Uh, Bucky?"

Bucky's arms only tightened in response.

"IwaseavesdroppingImsorrybutIwantedyoutoknowIloveyouandIappreciateyou," was the mess of jumbled words that came out against his chest. It took Steve a moment for him to separate the sentence out in his head.

"You were eavesdropping.. you're sorry.. but you love and appreciate me?" He said slowly.

Bucky turned his head up and bit his lip.

And this was why Steve loved him. He broke out into a smile and bent down to plant a kiss on Bucky's forehead.

"What was that for?" Bucky asked with very confused—yet cute—expression on his face.

"Nothing. Just wanted to show my love for you. And thank you."

Bucky couldn't help but blush and bury his face in Steve's chest.