The next night I found myself in the mess hall. The tables had been pushed to the sides and crude decorations were hung from the ceiling and walls. At the head of the room a radio was playing, the music blasting out of twin speakers on either of its sides. The general population of the camp was cramped inside the tent, dancing closer than they would have been allowed at home. The punch had been generously spiked and no one really seemed to care, a glass in each hand.

"What's a beautiful dame like you doing all by yourself?"

I tore my attention away from the dancers and looked to the solider who had saddled up next to me. He wasn't terrible attractive but he wasn't hard on the eyes either. "This dame happens to be waiting for the right partner," I answered, honestly a little frustrated that Steve hadn't wandered in yet.

His smile widened. "Well then I'm happy to tell you that you don't have to wait any longer," he told me, holding his hand out to me.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "I admire your confidence but I'm afraid you're a little late."

His smile faltered slightly. "You already have a fella?" he asked, shaking his head. "Which one is he and why isn't he dancing with you?"

"He's not much of a dancer," I mused. "Or a socializer," I added.

"If I had a beautiful woman like you I wouldn't let that stop me," he stated, his smile regaining its confidence. "I'd be taking you out every night, dancing, dinner, the movies, whatever you wanted."

I laughed at that, shaking my head at the thought of going to the movies with Steve. "That's a wonderful sentiment but there's the simple matter of the war," I told him. "We're both rather involved."

He arched an eyebrow. "What about when it's over?"

"It'll never be over," I found myself saying. "Not for him, at least."

He grimaced. "He's that attached to the Army?"

"The Army's that attached to him," I corrected. "He's very good at his job."

He went to retort but stopped when something across the room caught his attention.

I looked over and was elated to find Steve standing awkwardly just inside the doors, his eyes scanning the room with an almost lost look on his face. I couldn't help my smile as I raised a hand and waved to him.

Steve caught sight of me and the lost look was replaced with relief. He nodded to me and started to make his way towards me, a wary eye kept on the dancers in an attempt to stay out of their way.

"You're kidding me, right?"

I looked back to the soldier. "What?"

"Your fella is Captain America?" he demanded.

"I just call him Steve," I all but chirped out, the excitement that usually came with Steve already taking over.

He let out a nervous chuckle. "It was nice meeting you," he said, nodding to me. "I'm going to shuffle off before he gets the chance to put me through the wall."

He was gone before I got the chance to tell him that Steve wouldn't lay a hand on him.

The Super Soldier in question had finally made it to me, an almost shy smile on his lips as he stood in front of me. "Ellie," he greeted, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the music.

"Soldier," I greeted back. "I thought you had gotten lost on the way here," I teased, flashing him a smile to reassure him.

He seemed hesitant as he nodded. "I wasn't sure if I should come or not."

I wasn't really surprised. "And why's that?"

He chuckled nervously. "Ellie, you know I'm a dead hoofer."

I shook my head. "You just think that because you've never gotten the chance to try," I stated. "I mean, look at Jimmy. He can't dance worth a damn but that's not stopping him."

Steve furrowed his brow and turned his attention back to the crowded dance floor. It didn't take him long to spot my brother and the poor nurse he had talked into dancing with him. A startled laugh left him when Jimmy pulled off a rather cringe worthy dance move. "Okay, that's pretty awful," he agreed.

"You can't possibly be as bad as him," I stated, silently praying that that was true.

"I honestly have no idea," he admitted, looking back to me. "Buck's taught me some things but they didn't seem to do much good."

I couldn't help but picture Bucky and then skinny Steve dancing around the room, Buchanan scolding him when Steve once again stepped on his toe or made a wrong move.

"As a person of the female persuasion I think that I should be the judge of that," I stated, holding my hand up to him. "I believe you owe me a dance, soldier."

For a split second it looked like he was going to bolt but the look was quickly replaced with a wide smile. "I believe you're right," he said, taking hold of my hand.

I pulled him out onto the crowded floor just as the next song began, a slow serenade filling the tent.

Steve followed me rigidly, that lost look back on his face. "I've never slow danced before," he admitted.

"It's real easy," I assured him, bringing the hand I was holding up while I brought his other hand to my waist, chuckling when he hesitated. I ran my hand up the arm to rest on his shoulder, my fingers curling around the back of his neck. "You hold your partner close and then you just move to the music," I told him, leaning a little closer to him.

He cleared his throat and gave a small nod before he began to sway us as Frank Sinatra's voice sounded.

Day by day

I'm falling more in love with you

And day by day

My love seems to grow

There isn't any end to my devotion

It's deeper, dear, by far

Than any ocean

I find that day by day

You're making all my dreams come true

So come what may

I want you to know

I'm yours alone

And I'm in love to this day

As we go through the years

Day by day

I'm yours alone

And I'm in love to this day

As we go through the years

Day by day

We slowed to a stop as the music faded out.

"See? That wasn't so hard," I told him, refusing to let him go till he pulled away.

That goofy smile he sometimes got spread across his face as he shook his head lightly. "That wasn't hard at all," he agreed.

"Do you think you'll be dancing more often?" I inquired.

He turned his head to the side in thought. "I will but there's a catch."

I arched an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

He leaned down till he was only a few inches away from me. "You have to be my partner," he murmured.

A startled laugh left me at that. "Are you sure?" I asked. "That's a lot of dancing with one person. It could get boring."

He shook his head. "Not if you have the right partner," he corrected me, "and I'm pretty sure I've found mine."

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't shocked. I knew that he had intentions towards me but the conversation about him waiting for the right partner had been so serious that I never considered I would have a chance. There was so much he didn't know about, so much that I had been keeping form him that had the potential to send him running in the other direction. But, God, did I want to be his partner.

I hadn't realized that we were leaning closer till our lips met. My eyes fluttered shut and I found my hand threading through his hair. He was still for a moment before he seemed to let out the breath he had been holding and lean further into me. I smiled against his lisp when I felt his fingers flex against my waist, pulling me a little closer to him.

We jerked apart when a wolf whistle split the air, several cheers and applause following.

I looked over towards Jimmy and found his standing with the other Commandos, wide smiles on their faces as they watched us. I sent them a playful glare before turning back to Steve. "Do you wanna go for a walk?" I asked when I saw how flustered he looked.

He nodded quickly, his eyes scanning over the crowd again.

I tightened my grip on his hand again and I was once again pulling him, this time off the dance floor out into the night air.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he apologized once we were far enough away from the tent. "I shouldn't have-"

"There's nothing wrong with you kissing your girl," I mused, leaning into his shoulder with a smirk.

"But I-" he cut himself off when he registered what I had said. "My girl?" he asked, pulling us to a stop and looking down at me. "Ellie?"

I gave him a questioning look. "Did I misunderstand you when you told me I was the right partner?"

"What? No," he answered, panicking slightly. "No, Ellie, you didn't misunderstand. I just- I didn't think you would…." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I'm asking a lot."

"You're really not," I assured him.

He seemed surprised by that, his goofy smile back on his face. "You'll really be my girl?"

"Happily," I found myself saying.

A shocked laugh left him. "Really?"

I nodded and brought my hands up to cradle his face. "Really really," I told him before bringing him down into another kiss.

He smiled against my lips as his arms wrapped tightly around my waist and lifted me up. He pivoted on his heel and began to spin us.

I couldn't help the laughter that escaped me, the kiss breaking as I clung to him. "Steve!" I exclaimed, honestly surprised by his enthusiasm.

He slowed to a stop but didn't set me down. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked, that smile remaining. "You know I've never done anything like this before and I might not-"

I cut him off with another kiss. "We're going to work on that self-esteem of yours," I told him. "Steve, I wouldn't have let you kiss me if I wasn't sure."

He gave a considerate nod at that. "I would have ended up like Hodge," he agreed. "I just want to make sure that this is something you really want."

"We're stuck on each other, soldier," I reminded him, running my thumbs across his cheekbones. "We're at that point where either we stay exactly where we are or go forward, and in complete honesty? I'm a little a tired of where we are," I answered with a chuckle. "I want you, Steve. Not Captain America, not the Super Solider, just Steve Rogers. Just the kid from Brooklyn who doesn't know when to give up."

A shutter of a chuckle left him as he looked up at me, his smile wavering. "I-uh-" he cut off to clear his throat. "No one's ever wanted just Steve before."

"Well I do," I defended, "and you're going to have to live with that because now that I have you…" I paused for dramatic effect, "I'm not letting you go."

He shook his head. "I don't want you to let me go," he stated, his arms tightening around me. "I don't want to let you go."

"Then don't."

His smile softened and a certain look filled his eyes. "Ellie," he sighed before tilting his head up to once again kiss me.


"It's about fucking time."

A snort of laughter left me as I choked on the mouthful of 'eggs' I just put in my mouth. I looked over and found Howard limping towards me, a wide smile on his face. "I'm not afraid to hit a cripple," I told him, cringing as I swallowed.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not a cripple," he said before dropping down on the bench across from me. "Can I bum one off ya?" he asked, pointing to the lit cigarette in my other hand.

I shook my head. "It's my last one," I told him, holding it out to him.

He sighed dramatically but took it anyway. "So inconsiderate," he muttered, pulling in a long drag.

I rolled my eyes. "You're one to talk," I said, reaching out to flick his forehead. "What are you doing out of the med tent?" I questioned, spearing another sponge like clump of 'eggs'.

"The morning shift nurses aren't as attractive as they would have you believe," he answered. "Plus, when I heard the gossip that Captain America was seen kissing some dame at the dance last night I had to make sure it was you."

I couldn't help but smile. "Gossip, huh?"

He hesitated before cracking a smile. "Bucky came to see me," he admitted. "Kid was smiling from ear to ear."

"He spirited Steve off somewhere. Gave some excuse about needing to have a 'man talk' with him," I told him, dropping my fork back to the tray and picking up the cup of watered down coffee.

Howard arched an eyebrow. "Do we need to have a 'man talk'?" he asked me, taking another drag. "When was the last time you got a little-"

I resisted the urge to throw my coffee at him. "We do not need a 'man talk'," I interrupted. "And the last time I got anything is none of your business."

"I'm your best friend, I think I deserve to know details like that," he defended.

I scoffed. "You are not my best friend."

"We're in cahoots," he stated, gesturing between us. "We're best friends."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," I allowed, sipping at the liquid before wrinkling my nose and setting the cup as far from me as possible. "The least they could do is give us decent coffee."

"Make sure to file a complaint," Howard told me, reaching out to grab my discarded cup to take a test taste of his own. "That's worse than the powdered eggs," he noted, setting it back in the spot I had just put it in.

"Could be worse," I considered, looking down at the tray of rationed food. "During the Civil War there were days when we didn't eat," I told him. "A lot of boys died from starvation or malnutrition."

His eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Are you seriously telling me war stories?" he asked. "Since when did you start acting your age?"

I rolled my eyes. "Howard, I'm 110 years old. My age was bound to catch up to me eventually."

"You're 110?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes again. "You know my birthdate, Howard."

"So?"

"So, I should hope as a self-proclaimed genius that you're capable of doing simple math," I teased, reaching over again to flick his forehead.

He swatted my hand away. "It's one thing to know the number but it's another to actually hear you say it."

I consented with a nod. "I suppose that's true."

"There's no supposing," he stated with a surprisingly firm tone. "And I know this is a sour subject but are you going to tell him?"

Whatever pleasant mood I had been in vanished almost instantly. "What?"

"Are you going to tell Steve?" he amended, leaning across the table to whisper.

My jaw clenched. "I'm getting tired of that question."

He shrugged. "It's a relevant question."

"It's a question I'm not going to answer."

"Why not?"

I glared at him. "You know why."

He glared back. "I don't, actually," he stated. "El, the guy is carrying a massive torch for you. I doubt anything you tell him with change that."

"You don't know that," I growled. "Not everyone is like you and Abe. Or Chester and he still denies it to a degree," I told him.

"And what are you going to do when he starts to notice that you're not getting hurt?" he asked. "Or that you're not aging? What are you going to do then?"

A snarl ripped from my throat. "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it."

He gave me an unamused look. "That's a terrible idea, El."

I pulled in a calming breath and gave him a pointed look. "Howard, why don't we stop while we're ahead? I would hate to have to strangle you so early in the morning."

He went to speak but hesitated when he saw my expression. "At least wait till I've had my morphine shot."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "I wish they'd keep you sedated."

"You know, I asked about that and a few of the nurses seemed all for it but Head Nurse Beatrice seems content in leaving me in pain," he told me, pulling off a rather impressive pout. "I don't think she likes me."

"I don't think a lot of people like you," I mused, pushing my still full tray towards Howard. "Something about your personality rubs people the wrong way. A lot of wrong ways."

"How is that my fault?" he asked, reaching down to grab a watery clump of the synthetic 'eggs' and threw it in his mouth. He chewed for a moment before his face screwed into an expression similar to the one you would make after biting into a lemon. "Oh my God," he gagged out, leaning over the tray to spit the mouthful out.

I wrinkled my nose and leaned away from him. "What part of powdered eggs sounded appetizing?" I demanded.

He whined as he scraped his tongue off with the dull butter knife. "How do people eat that shit?"

"After a while you lose your sense of taste," I assured him. "Food stops being food and just texture."

A groan left him as he continuously spat onto the tray.

I chuckled. "Want more coffee?" I asked, reaching over to grab the cup.

He shook his head quickly, turning a little green around the gills.

"Lizzy!"

I looked over Howard's head and spotted Jimmy striding towards us with a tray full of his own 'food'.

"What's wrong with him?" he asked as he took the spot next to the still gagging genius.

"He tasted the eggs," I answered.

Jimmy barked at a laugh and nudged his friends shoulder. "You're not supposed to taste them," he stated. "Just swallow 'em."

Howard's hand slapped over his mouth as he resisted the urge to throw up.

"I think it's safe to say that neither of us will be eating," I stated, sliding my tray over so it was level with Jimmy's.

Jimmy shrugged and stabbed a rather large mouthful of eggs with his fork before shoving them into his mouth.

I shook my head as I watched him. "You haven't seen Steve or Buchanan have you?"

He nodded as he chewed hungrily. "They were right behind me," he answered around the mouthful of egg. "We just got done having a little chat."

I arched an eyebrow at that and fixed him with a glare. "Jimmy."

He gave me a startled look. "What?"

"A little chat?" I demanded.

He rolled his eyes and shoved another forkful of eggs into his mouth. "Just the usual 'if you hurt her I'll kill you' conversation," he answered. "Vic's not here so I had to do it."

I growled and smacked the side of his head. "Damn right Victor isn't here!" I snapped. "That's a good thing, Jimmy! The first time I actually like a guy and Big Bad Brother isn't here to scare him off."

"I didn't scare him off, Lizzy," he assured me. "The kid's stuck on you pretty hard."

"And I'm stuck on him pretty hard too, Jimmy," I stated, unable to help the growl that laced with my voice. "I don't need you breathing down our necks."

He held his hands up in defense. "I'm not going to breathe down your necks," he told me. "You're free to do whatever you want."

I nodded. "That was a given no matter what you said," I told him. "I'm asking you to not make me hurt you, James."

Jimmy watched me for a moment before he nodded slowly. "Alright, Eleanor."

I accepted that and went to ask him about the nurse he danced with last night before the mess hall doors swung open and Steve and Bucky stepped in. "Morning, boys!" I called out.

Steve's smile when he spotted me was nearly breathless.

"Morning, Beth!" Bucky exclaimed, looking far too excited for the time of day.

"Morning, Ellie," Steve said, moving around the table to sit next to me, his lips finding my cheek as he did so. "How did you sleep?"

I shifted on the bench to face towards him, an easy smile stretched across my face. "Like a child," I answered. "How about you?"

He nodded, his arm coming up to wrap around my waist. "It's better than sleeping on the ground."

A snort of laughter left Bucky as he took the other side of Howard. "Not by much," he disagreed. "The difference is there's a little give."

"You get used to it," Jimmy assured him. "Pretty soon it's the mattress that's going to feel weird. Right, Lizzy?"

I nodded. "They're too damn soft," I agreed. "Hell, Vic doesn't even bother anymore. He just sleeps on the floor."

"Remember the first time he tried to sleep on one after a tour?" Jimmy asked, already laughing to himself.

I smiled at the memory. "He threw the damn thing out the window. We had to talk the hotel manager out of having him arrested," I remembered, leaning into Steve. "He ended up sleeping in the bathtub with his feet hanging over the side."

Jimmy nodded and pointed to me. "He ordered room service and made the waiter bring it into the bathroom."

"We ate breakfast on the floor," I mused, dropping my head onto Steve's shoulder.

Howard let out a weak laugh as he shook his head. "Your family is so weird."

"No denying that," Jimmy agreed, eating another large bite.

"Not to mention your brother's anger issues," he added, giving me a pointed look. "He's worse than you are."

I hummed in agreement. "He goes into blind rages while I'm able to focus on the subject of my anger," I explained with an easy smile.

He blinked several times. "That's terrifying," he stated.

"Try being on the receiving end of it," Jimmy told him, knocking his shoulder into his. "I remember one time she spent a month orchestrating a master plan to get back at Vic after he put one of her dates in the hospital," he started, giving Steve a pointed look, "It was an elaborate set up, involved every datable female within a five mile radius and several restaurant, theater, and dance hall owners. After a month of absolutely horrible dates he figure it out and apologized to her."

They all looked over to me with wide eyes.

"How the hell did you pull that off?" Buchannan demanded.

I shrugged. "It was easy enough to convince the girls and some of the dance hall owners were enthusiastic," I answered. "The rest of them were easily bribed."

Buchannan chuckled and looked to his friend. "I've said this once and I'll say it again; good luck."

I shook my head as the others laughed. "You know, Buchannan, you have a wonderful head of hair, it would be a shame if you woke up without it," I told him, keeping my voice conversational.

He sobered instantly giving me a stricken look. "You wouldn't do that to me, would you, Beth?" he asked.

I gave him my best innocent look. "I never said I would do anything," I told him. "I simply said that it would be shame if it happened."

He swallowed hard and nodded. "Right," he agreed before looking back to his friend. "Great choice, pal, glad you found her."

Steve smiled and tightened his arm around my waist. "I'm glad I found her too," he said before pressing a kiss to my temple.


I have absolutely no excuse for how late this is. I apologize. Please enjoy.

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