Happy Canada Day and Independence Day to all my readers! Also Happy Birthday 92nd Steve!

Read and let me know what you think sorry it took so long to get a chapter up work has had me swamped!

Enjoy

XOXOXO

Chapter 36: Friendship, loyalty and love

Laying awake next to her he watched her sleep, Steve you dumb ass how could you do this to her? His mind ran one hundred miles a minute. Couples fight and make up it's what they do? Isn't it... The only memories he had of his parents were of them fighting; and then his mother apologizing profusely the next didn't want that to be him and Kitty.

Her long blond curls spiraled perfectly around his fingers as he absentmindedly played with her hair trying to block out the memories of their fight. The pink streaks marked her skin, trails from her tears. He struggled to fall asleep, the sliver of the last quarter creeping high into the sky until finally he managed to close his eyes. Hours passed, the night wearing on his nightmares starting almost instantly after he had fallen deep into what he thought was a relaxing sleep.

"Steve, please don't leave me... please." She begged and pleaded with him not to die. "Come on, you're Captain America the word needs you... I need you."

Her image was starting to blur, but he could still make her out; she held him there on the battlefield, her face streaked with tears. His blood streaked across her cheeks from her trying to wipe her face. He wanted to say something but all he found himself doing was choking on blood; as his body starting to grow colder, the warmth from her fading away, vision darkened... Steve shot straight up in bed, jerking away from the dream. Gasping for breath his leaned forward resting his feverish forehead in clammy palms.

"Steve, is everything alright?" Her hand slid over his blazing hot skin trying to calm him.

In the darkness he found her, his eyes fear stricken burying his face against her lace covered breasts. "Oh god, Kitty I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." his hands gripping two fistfuls of silk.

She knew immediately it was about earlier. "Ssh, Steve it's okay."

Desperately shaking his head back and forth his breath coming out in short gasps, "I should have told you. I never should have done this to you."

All she could do was hold him; this was the first real time she had ever seen him cry; not knowing what to say, she listened to him mumble. "Kitty I'm sorry but after what happened... When I was missing, when I was captured I had time to think; you know what scared me the most? It wasn't that I could have been killed; it was the thought that I wouldn't be enough; that I would never see you again. It broke my heart."

"Oh Steve," She breathed running her hand over his cheek brushing away the tears.

"Every night since I've come back I've dreamt about you missing me. That I wasn't strong enough to save you, myself, my men, or our country. I was in the position of the men I've killed." He paused to catch his breath, "I saw you crying. Kitty couldn't do that to you. I hate seeing you cry, and even worse I hate being the cause of it. It's not fair to you... this life isn't what you deserve. My job, this life, you're always going to be in danger. I wish I could just finish the job kill Schmidt, and leave it all behind me just to be with you. But... Kitty I... I can't. I can't abandon my team, everyone is counting on me."

She rubbed his back trying to soothe him as he rested his head against her shoulder, "Steve, I'm not asking you to trade any of it. This life is all I ever wanted. I love the hero and the man behind the mask."

Slowly his shallow breath began to deepen, as he nuzzled her slender neck. They stayed like that for a long time. Letting his features relax he sunk into her body, her heartbeat a soft comforting lullaby. She was the one who knew how to quieten all his demons. Suddenly deep in his heart he knew it was the right time, he wasn't going to let this moment pass; he was going to show her exactly what she meant to him. Come on Steve, there is no better time than now. Lifting his head he gazed into her eyes for the last time as his girlfriend. "Kitty, there's something I've been meaning to do for a while." Climbing of the bed he turned on the small bedside lamp, turning the room to gold; revealing the time to be 0200 hours.

"Steve?" She asked quietly watching him dig around in his uniform jacket for a minute, as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Sweetheart, you stopped me from doing this once before but I want to give you the life you deserve. I can't wait to until the end of the war." Pausing he took her hand, helping her to her feet. The short nightgown she wore falling around her thighs. "Kathleen Moldihan," Steve began as he lowered himself to one knee.

Everything seemed to run in slow motion as she watched him kneel before her clad in only standard issue boxers. Biting her quivering lower lip, she drew a sharp breath. She knew what was coming but it still didn't stop her nerves from exciting. His eyes bored into hers; both trembling from anticipation. Steve grasped her hand tighter as if he too tried to calm his own nerves.

"I love you. You're my one and only." Pausing he let go of her hand opening the black velvet box he had been hiding from her, "Would you do me the honor of being my wife?" Inside the box sat his mother's Claddagh ring, the small diamond embellishing the point of the crown.

Her hands flew up to cover her mouth. Oh my god, Captain America is asking me to be his bride? Please don't let this be a dream. Happy tears welling up in big blue eyes. "Oh my... Steve..." She couldn't get her words out; she could nod up and down, giving him yes as her answer. Tears were running down her face when she finally she got her words, "Yes... Yes... Yes..." She gasped.

With shaky hands Steve, gazed up at her and slipped the band on to her thin ring finger.

The moment the ring slipped all the way on she dropped to her knees, their lips connecting quickly. "I love you." He cupped her chin; his smooth lips caress her over and over again. He kissed away her tears, cradling her against him.

"Oh Steve..." She murmured his name against him. She felt complete, with him there holding her, kissing her.

Neither of them wanted this moment to end there was a serenity that had settled over them. It was a peace that still lasted ever after Steve spoke, "Come on babe, let's get back to bed."

Kitty agreed to his request eagerly letting him gather her up in his arms and lay her out on their bed. Climbing on top of her, sliding chapped winter worn hands over her slippery silk, she responded to his touch. Opening beneath him. Their quick passionate kisses quickly turned hot, needy. Steve's hands pushing the nightgown up over her body, while she pulled hastily at his boxers. Stripping each other naked they reveled in the beauty of their union.

That night was different; he made love to her like it was the first time all over again. They moved together in perfect rhythm, their breathing and beating of their hearts seemed to match. Everything was perfect; the world had completely stopped for them. There was no war only them, and that was the only thing that mattered to them.

"Kitty, I love you..." His lips moved over the soft hollow where her neck and shoulder met as he spoke.

The raw emotions came bubbling to the front as they both reached their peaks. She could feel him pour into her and all she could do was tighten her hold on his biceps as she let go of her control, arching her body into him. She cried out for him, feeling every inch of her soldier being wrapped around her. Despite having been with him so many time before tonight was the beginning of their life together.

As they came down from their passionate high, they held on to one another. Steve rested on top of her, relishing in the feeling of her running her hands over his back and arms. It took effort on his part to get up off of her. "Kitty," he breathed her name as she cuddled against his naked chest, "You know I'm never exhausted from the battlefield, but after a night with you..." He paused letting out a deep breath, "I can't seem to catch my breath."

Her cheeks flushed a deep pink at his words, but she knew they were the truth. Gazing down at the ring, "It's so beautiful."

Steve watched as a smile lit up her face. Soon you will be my wife, and I'll get to see you smile like that every day. "My father gave that ring to my mother in 1917 before he went off to war, and when he came home they got married." He explained, "When we get married, you'll turn that heart to face toward you." He lifted her hand kissing the ring.

"Why?" She asked.

"Why what?"

"Why can't I turning the ring until we're married." She asked looking up at him confused.

"I thought you were Irish?" He teased.

"My father was, my mother was a Russian Ukraine refugee. I thought you read my file?" Kitty teased her new fiancé back.

"I know," Steve kissed her forehead, before starting to explain the ring to her. "Well the story I was always told about the ring was that a prince had fallen madly in love with a common maid. But her father didn't approve and accused the prince of only wanting to use his daughter. So to convince her father that his intentions were pure the prince designed the ring. The hands representing friendship, a crown for loyalty and the heart for love. Once the ring was made the prince proposed and when her father heard the explanation he gave his blessing."

Kitty smiled up at him kissing his cheek. "That's really quite romantic."

"I'm not finished." Steve smiled kissing her multiple times, "So stop interrupting..." Kitty couldn't help but giggle as he kissed her. "Now there are four ways to wear the ring. Now traditionally if the ring is on the right hand heart facing outward from the body, the wearer is single and open for courtship. If it's on the right hand facing the body the wearer's heart has been captured, meaning they are in a relationship. But now if it was worn how I have placed it on your hand, it symbolizes that you are engaged; and on our wedding day after the blessing of the rings I'll place the ring on your hand with the heart facing in making you mine." There was a long pause as he reached for her hand, "I know it's a simple ring but it's the most precious thing I own. Take it as my parents blessing." Enveloping the pad of her finger with tender kiss.

"Steve that's..."

He cut her off, "My best girl deserves whatever her heart desires. I wanted to wait until the end of the war, that way I could have bought you a proper ring but I just..."

Pulling his head down she kissed him, "I love you Steve." Pulling back momentarily their lips barely inches apart, "And I love the ring..."

The look on his face was complete surprise by his actions, she was never so bold; taking charge like that was completely thrilling for him.

Kitty could see the sparkle in his eyes, the look of complete satisfaction on his handsome face. Seeing him like this put her at ease, making her realize that they'll get through these dark times and come out better from it. They laid there just kissing, listening to each other's breath, heartbeat. Learning every small noise the other made when they were trying to fight off sleep. Another hour or so passed until she felt his hand start to slacken its grip on hers.

"Steve, we should..." her words interrupted by a yawn, "get some more sleep."

He nodded sleepily against her curls as she nuzzled down against the solid muscles of his chest.

"Kitty, I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you."

Hearing those words made her heart feel warm as she pressed a gentle kiss to his skin. Both of them knew that all too soon they would have to face the dawn and the reality of their actions.