Chapter 2

To comply with Fury's orders, Steve Rogers had formed a weekly routine. On Monday he would go for a run to Central Park, he just had to remember to keep his speed at average-human level, SHIELD didn't want anyone getting suspicious. Although it was a long journey on foot at his reduced-speed, Steve hadn't yet replaced his motorcycle (which he had totaled fighting Hydra in 1945) but he probably wouldn't have used it anyway. Steve was constantly itching for some form of physical activity, to help keep his mind off the past. Even though he spent countless hours in SHIELD's underground gym, he really began to enjoy running around the city, even if it was below the speed he would have preferred.

On Wednesdays he would walk the area around the SHIELD building, looking for little coffee shops or bakeries where he could stop in and find a quiet place to sketch. Thus far he hadn't found one that he liked enough to revisit. He found that often they were too loud or the people too rude. Also he frequently found his attempts at peace being interrupted by people trying to make conversations, usually pretty young women and occasionally men as well. Steve was too polite to turn anyone away out of hand, but he had never been great at small talk and he couldn't understand why he was getting all this attention. But after he got his focus, he usually sketched the people from his past life during these outings. He drew from memory Peggy smiling, Bucky caught in a laugh, The Howling Commandos toasting with overflowing glass tankards, and sometimes even his mother wearing the smile she only ever showed to Steve. He found that these drawings were some of the best ways to deal with his sadness, he felt like he was paying tribute to the heroes in his life.

But Steve looked forward to Thursdays the most. It had been five weeks since his first outing to the Queen's Theater. He found he no longer had the painful gut-reaction that he had experienced that first time. He now felt some sadness, but tried to focus on the positive aspects of the nostalgia.

As for movies, he had seen some classics for the first time, like Charade and To Kill A Mockingbird, which came out after he had been frozen. He also saw others that had he had seen when they had come out, like Casablanca and King Kong. And as much as enjoyed seeing these films, that reminded him of the time he was born it, he often found his attention focused on something other than the screen.

Charlie and Steve had formed a sort of schedule on these movie nights. They would greet each other when they arrived, generally simple hellos and questions about how their day had been. They would then offer to share some of whatever snack they had chosen for the evening. This had started on week two after Charlie had offered him some of her Kit Kat, and not having anything to reciprocate he had declined in order to not be rude. However he immediately saw that this wasn't the correct response when he saw her nod her head, but purse her pouty lips into a little frown. In order to make up for his mistake the next week, he bought an assortment of candies that he could trade with her. He quickly found out that Charlie had an incredible sweet tooth and was keen on sharing the treats.

Next came his favorite part of the evening, getting to sneak glances at her watching the movie. Something he hadn't noticed during their first movie together was how invested Charlie became in the films she viewed. She would laugh at every funny part, cry when something was even remotely sad, get angry at frustrating scenes, and sometimes he even caught her mouthing the dialogue. She had really meant it when she said she loved classic movies.

Her quirky take on movie-going fascinated Steve. Although he loved movies and would marvel at the technology every time he went when he was young, he had never immersed himself the way that Charlie did. No longer when he looked at her did he see the ghost of Peggy, but he started to see everything unique about her, he tried to see her as who she really was, instead of the shadow of his former love.

Finally, the last step of their routine, when the movie was over he would open the door for her and they would say their goodnights, each one lingering just a little longer after every passing week.

Steve had been working up the courage to ask her for coffee, and he planned on finally trying this week. He didn't really have any romantic intentions behind the question, he wasn't ready for that, but he truly did want to get to know her better. She's the first person since he woke up that's been able to make him smile and feel hopeful, and he wanted to be around her more often than just their movie interactions. He had found himself thinking more and more about her, from the small birthmark under her nose to the way her cheeks dimpled when she smiled.

That night the scheduled film was Gone With The Wind, which although Steve normally enjoyed the movie, tonight the four hours could not pass fast enough. He had finished off the licorice Charlie had given him in about the first fifteen minutes, and from then on he could hardly think of anything except his nerves over asking Charlie to coffee.

He had to give himself a mental pep talk.

I'm Captain America; I've fought Nazis all over Europe. My team and I defeated the Red Skull and brought down Hydra. I've survived Peggy Carter's glare and being frozen in ice for nearly seventy years. Surely I can ask a girl out on a non-date!

By the end of it he felt somewhat better about what he was about to do, but he just once again wished he had Bucky's charisma and charm.

After what felt like forever, the movie ended and Charlie stood up and did her routine stretch and yawn. As they walked out the door, they both shivered at the brisk November evening.

"Goodnight, Steve," Charlie said between yawns. She started to turn to walk away.

"Wait, Charlie… I was wondering if you…" Steve mumbled while turning a vivid pink and thinking, Come on Rogers, spit it out!

"You were wondering?" Charlie asked, looking up at Steve quizzically because of his long pause and blush, but with a smile playing at her lips.

"Yeah… I was just wondering… if you um, had any licorice left?" You are an absolute idiot, Rogers.

"Oh. Sure! Have the rest the bag," she said in a clearly surprised tone, "Night, Steve."

"Thanks, Charlie! Goodnight."

They both turned and walked away. Steve got about 50 feet away before starting to mutter about being a complete moron, thinking that Bucky would have kicked his ass if he saw how he chickened out. He was so wrapped up in his self-deprecating thoughts that he almost didn't hear it.

Behind him someone cried out in shock and pain.

"Oh god, Charlie."

And that's all for this chapter! Sorry I left you with a bit of a cliffhanger, but I found that this was the best stopping point for this chapter.

BTW, this fic is totally a chance for me to indulge on some of the Steve headcanons I have. For example, the fact that he can't tell when people are trying to flirt with him, he really doesn't know what a babe he is!

And again thanks for taking the time to read and/or review, I've hope you enjoyed it! :)

P.S I really wanted to write a fluff piece for Steve about 4th of July today, but I just couldn't make it work with where the story is currently at. Instead I'll wish just wish him a Happy Birthday, and to all of you that celebrate it, Happy Independence Day! 3