Epilogue
One Year Later
"Steve!" Caroline was running ragged, she had lost count of the number of pumpkin pies she'd agreed to make for friends and neighbours and now that it was actually Halloween she didn't know whether she was coming or going! "Steve!" she shouted again wondering how she could lose an entire person in an apartment so small.
Hearing the doorbell ring Caroline jogged down the hallway, grabbing the bowl of candy for the trick or treaters and then the latch on the door she swung it open theatrically.
"Trick or treat!" she shouted into the face of her neighbour, turning a deep crimson Caroline laughed nervously. "Oh hello Mister Hoskins, give me a minute I'll just fetch your order." Seeing his eyes flick to the candy longingly she offered him the bowl before jogging down the hall again and retrieving two pies from the kitchen. Careful not to drop them she gave her neighbour a quick smile as she handed them over.
"Thank you Mrs Rogers…" Mister Hoskins said as he took the pies from her.
"I've already told you Mister Hoskins, it's Caroline please and you're welcome. Let me know how they go down?" Closing the door she turned and stared at the empty hallway, how could he not hear her?! "Steve! We need to get ready!" As she went to look for him in the living room she spotted him in the dining room resting against the dining room table. "Steve, what the bloody hell are you playing at?! I've been shouting for you, I need you to take Doris two pumpkin pies and…" Caroline stopped talking when she saw him looking at his phone. "What is it?" she asked concerned.
"We've been called in," looking up he gave her a sympathetic smile. He knew how much she enjoyed Halloween, she'd been positively giddy earlier in the day when she'd run home with their costumes, excitedly telling him Sam had agreed to be Chico Marx (of course Caroline was Groucho!).
"Alright, give me a minute." Without any sign of disappointment Caroline disappeared from view leaving Steve looking at the remaining pies that still needed to be delivered.
"You ready?" she asked a moment later as Steve was adjusting the harnesses on his uniform.
"Yeah, you?" looking up he saw that Caroline was already kitted out. Making their way down the hall Steve quickly turned back and retrieved the two pies from the kitchen, seeing that Caroline was looking at him strangely he gave her a quick wink. "Won't take a minute to drop them off at Doris'," he told her as she opened the door.
"TRICK OR TREAT!" Both Caroline and Steve stood frozen at the sight of the children stood at their door. Little face-painted faces looked up at Captain Britain and Captain America (a pumpkin pie in each hand to boot) and gasped. Caroline looked at Steve terrified, silently hoping he would know what to do. As the children whispered and mumbled between themselves Steve cleared his throat.
"Fancy dress party!" he blurted out and Caroline snapped out of her trance-like state.
"Oh, hey! Yeah…? We're going to a fancy dress party! What do you think?" Twirling round Caroline struggled not to laugh when the little Frankenstin's Monster nodded slowly, still slack-jawed and not altogether sure if he really was stood in front of the real deal. "Well I guess we pick treat?!" Grabbing some of the candy that she'd bought just for this very occasion (although she hadn't obviously bargained on being ready for work when she answered the door, Captain America standing by her side) she threw it into the children's bags. Pushing their way through the little ghosts and witches Caroline closed the door behind her and squeezed passed the still gawking children. Seeing a little girl in a home-made version of her uniform Caroline grinned and gave her a thumbs up. "Great costume!" she yelled as the pair ran down the hallway and out of sight.
"Was that?" one of the kids asked another. The older boy stared after Caroline and Steve and then looked down at his little Brother.
"Are you kidding?! Those costumes weren't even any good!"
As Steve jogged down the steps of the building he saw Caroline waiting on the back of his motorcycle, grinning he climbed on himself and started the engine as her arms snaked round his waist.
"You ready?" he asked.
"Let's go," she replied as the pair sped into the distance.
Well, there you have it! Hope you enjoyed the story and please let me know what you think.