Steve grunted in frustration as his hand slipped yet again. He hit his knuckles on the metal of his bike and tried really hard not to swear out loud. Steve made it a point not to swear; it never felt right on his lips. That didn't lessen the temptation to swear, especially when he was hurt. That was the seventh time he'd hit his knuckles. You'd think with my soldier serum that the small things wouldn't hurt, Steve thought. Guess that motto still applies even if you do have a serum in yoru veins. The small things hurt the worst, kind of like paper cuts.
"Still workin' on your bike?" Nathan asked. Steve looked up from his bike at Nathan holding two glasses.
"Yeah she's being stubborn," Steve sighed, wiping his hands on his jeans. Nathan chuckled and handed Steve a glass.
"Lemonade. Betty says it makes the work go faster," Nathan sipped his lemonade and shrugged.
"I don't argue with her. She's usually right." Steve smiled and took a sip. The lemonade was tangy but had a nice sweetness to it as well. The day was warm but not hot. There was a slight cool breeze that would refresh Steve every so often. The sky was dotted with clouds and the trees created a nice, fresh aroma to the air. I'm going to miss this place, Steve thought, and these people. Betty and Nathan had been so kind and generous. And Charlie…she had helped him in more ways than Steve had originally thought. Their talks in the morning had been comforting, not to mention Steve now knew how to make eggs. Steve felt…close to Charlie. He didn't know if that was the right word but all he knew is that he didn't want to stop talking to her. Steve felt it was too soon to call her a friend, they'd only known each other for two weeks.
"I have to say Steve," Nathan said, breaking Steve from his thoughts, "We're gonna miss having you around." Steve didn't know what to say. Nathan looked up from his glass and smiled sheepishly.
"I'm gonna have to start working again." Steve chuckled and Nathan smiled.
"But seriously, you're a good man Steve and it's been a pleasure having you live with us," Nathan nodded.
"Thank you Nathan," Steve said sincerely. Emotion welled up in Steve and he couldn't begin to identify what emotions. Acceptance, care, so many. Nathan nodded and turned around.
"Good luck with your bike," he called over his shoulder. Steve smiled and shook his head. Were all people like this family? No, if they were I wouldn't have a job, Steve thought. Steve sighed and looked at his bike. Let's make this work, he thought to the bike.
Steve worked for the rest of the day, only stopping for lunch, on his bike. Right before dinner, Steve kick started his bike and it growled to life. Steve smiled and patted the bike affectionately.
"That's my girl," he sighed. There was clapping and cheering from the porch and Steve looked up. Betty, Nathan, and Charlie all stood on the porch smiling.
"Well done," Betty said, coming down the stairs. Nathan and Charlie followed. Steve stood and wiped his hands on his pants. I wish I could stay for dinner, he thought. Fury had called again earlier, demanding that as soon as the bike was fixed that Steve got on the road. Steve's sense of duty and loyalty wouldn't let him linger. Betty approached him and surprised him. She threw her arms around Steve and brought him in for a hug. Steve froze at first, not used to the close contact. Hesitantly, he placed his arms around Betty and hugged him back.
"Oh Steve, we're going to miss you," Betty mumbled into his shoulder.
"I'm going to miss you guys too," Steve replied. He meant it to. Sometimes there was the polite response to satisfy someone but you never meant it. This…this he meant. He was going to miss them. Betty pulled away and smiled with misty eyes. Nathan hugged him next and gave him a few slaps on the back.
"If you're ever in the area, you stop on by, you hear?" Nathan said. Steve nodded, "Of course." Nathan stepped away and Charlie came into view. Her eyes were slightly sad but she was smiling comfortingly.
"We'll get your bags," Betty said. She and Nathan walked away and Steve was left alone with Charlie.
"Can I see your phone?" Charlie asked. Steve nodded and dug in his pocket. He handed her the phone and she held out a wrapped package.
"What's this?" The package was small, about as big as his hand, shaped in a rectangle and wrapped in newspaper.
"Open it," Charlie smiled. His phone lit up her face as she pressed a button.
"You don't have a password?"
"I didn't think I needed one." Charlie shook her head and motioned to the package. Steve ripped the newspaper off to reveal a small journal. The cover was reddish tan with a black binding.
"Use this journal to jot down anything you can't remember. Groceries, songs you want to listen to, or just little notes. It also helps as a place to doodle if you're really bored," Charlie explained.
"I gave you a suggestion on the first page of a TV show you might like. I liked it as a little girl so who knows," Charlie shrugged. Steve opened the journal and found a scrawl of pen saying, Bonanza.
"Bonanza?" Steve asked.
"Yep, it's more of a cowboys show but it follows a family and I like families," Charlie described. Steve looked up at Charlie but she was looking at his phone intensely. He had a feeling that statement had a little more meaning than what it sounded like.
"Thank you," Steve said. He felt like he could never say thank you enough to this family. They had given him a taste of normality, family, and acceptance. That was more than he could ever ask for. Charlie nodded and looked up at Steve.
"Ok, so I put my number in your phone. This way we can keep in contact and talk about stuff. I know you'll be busy a lot but I figure you need someone to talk to on your off days too," Charlie said, handing him his phone. Steve didn't know what to say. He looked at the phone and saw that she'd put "Charlie" as her name instead of Charlotte.
"Plus, you are one of the few people who likes the music I like so I want to keep talking to you," Charlie added. Steve looked between Charlie and the phone and took a deep breath. So many emotions were swirling inside of him, more than he could have ever imagined possible.
"Thank you," Steve repeated, wanting to convey how he felt but not finding the words. Charlie smiled and that was all Steve needed to know that she understood.
"Oh by the way, do you know how to facetime?" Steve looked at her confused.
"Guess not," Charlie laughed. She stepped closer and pressed the round button on Steve's phone. The screen lit up with the date and a slide lock.
"Ok so you're phone is a little more high techy than mine but I assume that it has the same basic functions. If you slide the lock and press the phone icon, you're taken to a list of recent calls, the dialer, and your contacts. You go to your contacts, press on the name you want and there should be another icon, ah there it is, that looks like a square fish with a really big eye," Steve laughed at her description of the icon.
"You press it and it will call the person. However, instead of just listening to them you'll be able to see them as well. It's like a calling but with video. If you are awake one morning and want to call me or I call you, we can talk through video instead of just our voices. You could even watch me baking though I don't know if you'd want to but if you did you could." Steve chuckled at her rambling. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Thank you again. Thank you for everything. It…it means a lot," Steve still couldn't find the right words.
"I know," Charlie smiled sadly. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Steve's neck. This time, Steve didn't hesitate to hug her back.
"Thank you for coming to stay with us Steve. And please, stay in contact. Don't feel like you're alone, ok? We're here for you," Charlie said. Steve found he couldn't speak past the lump in his throat so he just nodded. Charlie held him for a few more seconds and then pulled back.
"Stay safe Steve Rogers, you here?" Charlie wagged her finger at Steve and he chuckled.
"I'll do my best ma'am," Steve smiled.
"Wait! Don't go without this," Betty cried. She ran down the steps and thrust a bag into Steve's hands.
"This is some food for the journey in case you can't stop too often," Betty smiled, "Now where is Nathan? He has your bags. Nathan!"
"Hold your horses, I'm coming!" Nathan shouted from the steps. He walked over to them, carrying Steve's duffel bag. He dropped the bag by Steve's feet and sighed.
"Don't rush me Betty, I do the work on my own time." Betty tsked and rolled her eyes. Steve and Charlie shared a look and smiled. Steve swung his bag onto his bike and strapped it and the food bag to his bike. He grabbed his helmet and turned to the small family.
"Thank you, truly. Thank you for everything you've done," Steve said. Betty smiled, Nathan nodded, and Charlie beamed. Steve put on his helmet, hopped on his bike, and started the engine. As he drove away, Steve tucked the little family into his mind. They would be there when he needed to be reminded that there were people who knew, who understood, and accepted him for who he was.
Hello everyone! Sorry it's been so long but I haven't been able to write in soooo long! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :) Oh and I want to know, would you guys like to see Steve's perspective through the Winter Soldier (that's what will be happening next) during the whole movie or just for little snippets? Let me know what you guys think! I would love your guys' thoughts and opinions! Thank you so much for everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed! Every time I get a notification, it makes my day! XD Thank you so much! You guys are awesome! :)