January 29, 1941

"We are doing really well right now, Steve." We were going over all our payments for the month and between our two jobs, we were earning more than enough for our expenses. I was getting more tips as people in general were making more money, and Steve was making more as well. "I am just so happy at how we have handled ourselves. I know it was hard when neither of us could afford anything beyond necessity, but we made it work and we have always had everything we needed so I believe God has blessed us."

"So do I," Steve replied.

"I feel so comfortable, I believe we could even grow our family," I joked but thought in the back of my head that it was more than true.

"You mean like, have children?" Steve asked.

"Yeah sure, I know we always talk about how we are alright with how we have things, but I wouldn't be opposed to the idea soon. I guess we should still wait a bit obviously. We aren't even married, and I haven't finished school. Actually, just forget I said anything, it was silly, just a joke really."

"No, I mean I'm glad we're talking about it. See, I understand we should wait until you finish school to have a child of course, but I'm glad we are looking at it as a real thing in our future. It's nice to think about."

"Yeah, it is nice to think about, isn't it." I smiled at him and he returned it with his adorable grin. I sighed and changed the subject. "What do you make of the war in Europe this week?" every week or so Steve would talk about what he read in the papers and as much as I hated the situation, I enjoyed the intellectual conversations we had about it.

"I'm telling you Mads, I'm surprised we haven't joined it yet."

"I know, people are scared from the last war, I'm scared and I didn't even really live through it. Lots of people would die."

"Lots of people are dying already."

"You're right," it was insensitive of me to put american lives above anyone else's. We were very much 'America First' and I never knew what to think anymore. "I guess I just selfishly think too much about what you and Bucky would do if we did join the war."

"You know us too well, and I'm sorry but it's what we would have to do. But I guess it's better if we don't think about it right now. There doesn't seem to be any plans to join yet, it would only upset the people. I just think we need to be mindful of if it could happen."

"Maybe that's another reason to yet again hold off on our future together." There was always something that we used as an excuse.

"I don't think so. Sure maybe on the child thing, but I don't think so on our future in general," he replied and I gave him a funny look.

"You're up to something," I observed.

"Nonsense," he chuckled. "Now let's go on a real date, how about dancing?"

"Since when are you the one to suggest dancing?"

"Since you're my favorite partner to dance with."

"I have been your only partner."

"But you're the right partner, and that's all I was ever waiting for." I smiled at him and hooked my arm in his.

"You're the right partner for me too. Let's go dancing then!"

April 2, 1941

"Do you think he's gonna ask me?" I asked Bucky as we walked to my house together. He had helped me with my groceries as Steve wasn't breathing well from the spring air. "I mean, he hints at it from time to time, and I joke with him, but do you think he's gonna actually ask me?"

"I don't know, Maddi. I sure hope so because you two have been together for ages. You basically already are married, just not by name yet."

"That's very funny, but it will seriously change a lot of things. I mean, my name will be changed, our relationship dynamic will change. We can actually start to maybe think about children more seriously."

"Maddi, why are we even talking about this right now?"

"Because, you're my girl talk since I haven't heard from Alice in a long time. She visits, but it's been a while and I need to talk about this now."

"If you want him to ask you, just flat out tell him. You are very vocal in everything else that goes through your head."

"But if he has something planned, I don't want to ruin it. Also, you should know me better than that. I was the girl who was in love with him for over a year and never said anything."

"You overthink things too much sometimes," he rolled his eyes as I reached for my keys at my apartment door. "That's why you're so good with Steve, you both do it." It was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Are you staying for dinner? We'd love to have ya," I told him as we put the bags on the counter. "Steve we're back!" I yelled to the bedroom.

"Coming," I heard him yell back.

"Yeah I'll stay. I got a date tonight, but I have enough time until then."

"Ah, who's the lucky girl tonight?" Steve asked with a smirk.

"Oh shut up you punk, just because you can't date anymore due to miss redhead over hear does not mean you need to criticize me for doing it."

"Oh trust me Buck, I do not miss going on dates you set up for me at all. This is much more your style than mine," he chuckled back at Bucky.

"Just maybe try to keep this girl longer than a day Bucky," I suggest.

"Oh haha guys, you know it's not them breaking up with me."

"Oh we know Barnes," I told him. "That's why I'm suggesting you don't forget about her by tomorrow." Steve laughed at my comment and Bucky just playfully brushed it off. He was all too proud of his reputation.

May 25, 1941 (STEVE'S POV)

Bucky, Maddi, and I walked into Ebbets Stadium and it was a beautiful day out. Maddi had bought us tickets to see the Brooklyn Dodgers vs Philadelphia Phillies game as a random gift and we were all excited. I had gotten her a bit more into baseball as I would listen to games on the radio, and she had begun joining me the last two years. We walked through the stadium and Maddi was smiling wide. "This is so exciting!" She said as all the lively people walked around and bought food or talked with friends. I noticed she was slightly shivering but trying to hide it.

"Are you cold?" I asked her, concerned.

"Oh, just a little I guess. It's a bit more windy than I thought it would be." I immediately took off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "No Steve, you don't have to do that," she quickly tried to say.

"Nah, I'm still wearing long sleeves; you're the crazy one who wore a short sleeved dress. Besides, I'm not even that cold."

"It's the end of May! It shouldn't be this cold!" Bucky and I just chuckled because she was always colder than us and I was surprised she didn't bring her own jacket. We got to our seats and talked about how we thought the game might go. As it started, I saw Maddi shiver yet again, except this time Bucky noticed it too and wrapped her in a big hug.

"We'll keep you warm, Mads!" he said and she laughed from surprise.

"Very funny, Bucky. Really I'm fine." He let go and looked at us both.

"Well Steve already did the boyfriend thing and gave you his jacket, what else is the brotherly figure supposed to do?"

"I guess I'll take your hugs, they are very warming," she teased back and I smiled. They were my two favorite people in the world, and I couldn't have asked for a better day than spending it there with them. A few innings later, I offered to to grab us some food. I got us some popcorn, and as I got back to our seats, Maddi and Bucky were both intently watching the game. "You're back, just in time! It's the bottom of the 6th, they're tied 4 to 4 and the bases are loaded. Sit down and watch!" I sat quickly and handed her some popcorn and we all watched as the batter hit the ball and it went flying in the park, but they players on the pases were running in one by one to home plate. The entire stadium was cheering as the hitter was making his way around and was then heading for home plate too. It was an in the park grand slam and we all couldn't believe it. We were all up on our feets cheering so loud, it's all you could hear. Maddi was jumping up and down with excitement. "Now why haven't we gone to games before today? This is so much fun!"

It was a moment I would remember forever, watching her smile wide and just having a wonderful time with her and Bucky. "We'll have to look into going to more in the future then, now that I clearly have made a baseball fan," I told her and she nodded back at me. The game finished later 8-4 with the Dodgers winning and Maddi and Bucky spent the entire walk home singing with glee. Bucky teased me to sing along with, but I refrained from doing so. Maddi didn't pester me with it because she knew I only sang in front of her.

June 1, 1941

"Let's go for a walk," Steve said as I was reading a book on the sofa. I sat up and smiled at him.

"Alright, let me put my shoes on," I hopped up and grabbed my handbag on the way. I laced my fingers into his and we walked hand in hand down the street, "Where are we headed?" I ask curiously. I enjoy our spontaneous moments and it was a beautiful day outside.

"Just anywhere really, you'll see I guess." I eyed him suspiciously but let it go. We walked together talking about anything random that came to our minds; we made each other laugh, and it was a more than an enjoyable afternoon. We walked by our old school.

"I remember when we first met," Steve said as we stood outside the yard lunch area. "We were so young, but I knew I had never met anyone prettier than you." I squeezed his hand and blushed.

"I am so glad I met you, my entire life changed because of the nice boy who I sat next to in class."

"Come on, I want to go to the park," he said after kissing me on the lips. We walked to the bench we often sat at and just watched the nature around us. I leaned my head on his shoulder and took a breath in. The smell of fresh grass mixed with Steve's natural scent brought me so much peace. "I wanted to show you something. I went through your album, but for good reason." He took out a small stack of drawings from his bag he brought with. "These are a collection of every drawing I have made for you while sitting at this very bench. I'm sure you remember most of them because you were there when I drew them. The first one there is the one of you and Bucky playing in the snow from the first year we knew each other. Look through them."

I smiled as I thought back to every memory of each picture from watching Steve draw it or receiving it as a present from him, they all held such wonderful memories. I slowly flipped through them, completely fixated on the beautiful details he put in each one and I just could not stop smiling. I got to the last one and was taken aback. There was a new drawing I had never seen before, it was of the very park we were in, the bench I was sitting on. There was me sitting on the bench as Steve was on one knee holding a ring up to me. I gasped and quickly looked over to see Steve in the same position holding up a very simple yet beautiful engagement ring. "Oh my goodness," I said putting my hands up to my mouth. I had known this had to be coming soon, but this was a wonderful feeling that actually surprised me.

"Madeline Jane Bennett, I have loved you since I met you. It may had taken me a while to admit it to myself, and even longer to admit it to you, but I have always been in love with you. There isn't anyone in this world I would rather start a family and grow old with, and I'm sure you're the only person who would want to do the same with me." I chuckled at his comment as tears began to roll down my face. "I want to forever draw you on paper, and I want to forever hear your lovely voice sing, and I want to forever dance with you until we're too tired and then we'll dance some more. Maddi, will you marry me?" I was already nodding my head as fast as I could by the time he asked the question and said yes over and over. Steve and I jumped up and hugged each other with smiles so wide on our faces. He kissed me passionately on the lips and I melted in his arms. As we pulled away, he took the ring still in his hand and put it on my finger.

"Steve, this ring is gorgeous!"

"It was my mother's engagement ring."

"Oh that just makes it all the better." I loved Sarah Rogers, she was so kind and I missed her.

"We can get new wedding rings for ourselves, but I just thought it would be nice for you to have this one. My dad picked it out when they were dating."

"It's perfect. This whole thing was perfect, and I love this drawing of us. I have to have it framed of course! It'll look lovely on our lamp table in the main room." I kissed him again and kept smiling. "I love you so much Steve."

"I love you Maddi."