AN: Jessica's outfit is up top, minus the hat.

Also, in case any of you have ever wondered, if it's not specially detailed, Jessica's hair is always down.

✧

Days later, Steve sighed as the wool of his costume scratched his skin, making Jessica raise a brow while a smirk danced at her lips.

"I don't know if I can do this, Brooklyn baby," He shook his head. Jessica bit her lip as her fingers picked at the edge of the star, "Can you do it for me, hero? I may even kiss you if you do."

"Nothing to it," One of the workers told, "You sell a few bonds. Bonds buy bullets. Bullets kill Nazis. Bing band boom and then you get a smooch out of it from your dame. Sounds like a win-win to me."

Jessica winked at Steve as the man said, "You're an American hero."

"It's not just how I pictured getting there," Steve explained. Jessica shrugged before she wrapped her arms around his neck, "It doesn't matter how you get there. All that matters is that you feel pride in yourself for your accomplishments."

The unknown man chuckled, "Keep her. She knows what she's talking about."

"Yes, she does," Steve wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling Jessica into his chest. The woman smiled, "Now, the Senator has got a lot of pull up on the Hill. You play ball with them and you'll be leading your own platoon in no time."

She turned in Steve's arms, grabbing his mask from the table beside them as the man kissed the side of her head.

Jessica turned and placed the mask on Steve, saying, "You sell this and you get a kiss, Mr. Rogers."

"Can I have one for good luck?"

The woman gave him a look and Steve pouted, Jessica sighing as she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. Steve's mouth moved against hers, holding the woman close as their hearts began beating in sync.

Steve pulled back breathlessly, whispering, "How am I going to get used to that?"

"You aren't," Jessica quickly kissed him once more before pushing him slightly, "Get your shield, hero. You do this and you'll get another kiss."

Steve's eyes widened before he grabbed the shield and ran through the curtain, Jessica chuckling to herself as the band began playing. Jessica walked over to the side of the stage, being able to see Steve along with the women on stage as they began to sing.

"Not all of us can storm a beach or drive a tank," Steve recited, reading the words Jessica had written onto a piece of paper and taped to the back of the shield for him. He looked to the crowd, "But there's still a way all of us can fight."

Jessica shook her head, putting her fist against her lips to hide her laughter.

Of course she was proud of Steve, but watching him walk around in his skin-tight patriotic costume was both humorous and intriguing. She rose a brow as she made his way down his body, eyes pausing on his lower back for a moment.

"Well, that's new. I may have to make him wear tights more often," She smirked to herself, biting her lip a bit, "The poster child of America has a new ass."

Jessica was brought out of her thoughts as the women continued singing, Steve waiting a moment to say, "Series E Defense Bonds. Each one you guy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun."

The man stepped away as the women continued their dance, shuffling across stage until Steve stopped at the side of it. He walked over to Jessica, who gave him a smile as she stepped on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Steve held the woman close, allowing a small gap between them as his shield was pressed against her backside. Jessica smirked and her eyes flashed a bright green, her hands glowing the same color as she she manipulated the metal touching her.

Jessica slammed against Steve's chest from the force of his shield, the man's eyes widening from the action. A blush crossed his cheeks and Jessica chuckled.

"You okay there, Stevie?" She quirked a brow, a grin playing at her lips, "You seem a little frazzled."

"Should we be touching like this?" He questioned in a hushed whisper, "You're practically on me."

Jessica rolled her eyes playfully, "You're going to have to get used to touching me, Steve. You had no problem doing it before."

"Yes, but that's when we were alone."

Jessica stepped back a bit, "What do you mean when we were alone? Do you not want people knowing about us?"

"No, that's not what I mean," Steve shook his head immediately, "I just don't want people questioning why we are so close."

The redheaded woman thought for a moment before a chuckle escaped her mouth, pressing her head against his chest as his fingers ran up and down her back. She looked back up at him, shaking her head.

"Are you insinuating you're afraid people will think my reputation is corrupted by you, Steven Grant Rogers?" She bit back a laugh. Steve only sighed, "I don't want people thinking bad about my girl."

"Who cares what people think," Jessica shook her head, "We have other pressing matters in this country. What does it matter if people conclude my happiness is from you slipping my thigh-high stockings down my legs."

Steve's eyes widened as heat spread across his face, "Jess!"

"What?" Jessica scoffed, "I'm not too concerned about it. This is between you and I. No one else needs to know what we do or don't do."

The man gave her a look as the show-girls walked past them, making him gulp as he whispered to his girlfriend, "You thought about that already?"

"I'm not a prude, hero," Jessica winked up at him, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck under his mask, "But, I do know your ideology on the subject of waiting after marriage. If you want to wait? Then we will wait, but don't assume that I'm concerned because of my virtue or reputation across town. I don't care what people think about me. I'm not some floozie."

Steve blushed a bit as he looked down toward her, saying, "I would never think you were... thank you."

"Of course," Jessica wrinkled her nose at him as he brought her back toward him. Their chests were pressed together as Steve said, "Do you think I could have that kiss now?"

"Since you did your job."

Steve's arms were wrapped around Jessica's waist as she pressed her lips against his, moving against him after a moment. After a few minutes, the couple pulled back breathlessly, making Steve's heart beat against his ribs and through his costume.

Jessica chuckled as her eyes were still closed, forehead pressed against Steve's chin as she felt his heart against her. Her green eyes were on his blue ones as she stood on the ground normally, her head near the star on his chest.

The woman pressed her lips against where his heart was, whispering loud enough for him to hear her, "I love you."

"I love you," Steve smiled brightly while he looked down to the woman he had loved since they were children. Jessica gave him a grin and chuckled at his appearance, "You look like a big dumb dork. Take that thing off, hero."

Steve did as told and Jessica ran her fingers through his hair, the man sighing as she tugged on it lightly.

She smirked, "Does Steve Rogers like his hair pulled?"

"That's ridiculous," He rolled his eyes, trying to hide his blush. Jessica gave him a knowing look and simply said, "I'll have to keep that in mind."

"You're going to be the death of me, you know that right?"

"Well now that the asthma and heart problems are gone? You're probably right."

✧

Hours later, Jessica was laughing at a joke Steve had made as her hand was laced with his, her other hand on his arm while they walked down the street.

After taking photos with others and creating propaganda posters, Steve had pulled Jessica away for a night to themselves.

She furrowed her brows as Steve pulled them into a diner and said, "What are we doing?"

"Well, I figured I should take you on a proper date," Steve told, giving her a small smile. Jessica couldn't help her heart twinging in her chest as she looked to him lovingly, "But we don't have any money."

Steve wrinkled her nose, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, Brooklyn Baby. The Senator has got us tonight."

Jessica only reached up and kissed his cheek as she entered the diner, Steve holding the door open for her while his hand was still attached to hers. The woman dragged him over to a booth and slid in, Steve doing the same across from her.

A waiter quickly came over to them and handed the couple menus, asking, "What can I get you folks to drink tonight?"

Steve met Jessica's eyes, the woman understanding that he knew her order as he turned back to the teenager, saying, "Two lemonades, please."

The raven-haired teen quickly left and Jessica smiled at Steve, who said, "I figured that's what you wanted. I'm sorry if I-"

She cut him off, chuckling, "Hero, you're okay. You know me well."

Steve blushed at her words and said, "You're my best friend, too, Jess."

"But I'm still yours right?" Jessica smirked, grabbing steve's hand over the table. The red hue on Steve's cheeks and neck brightened as he ran this thumb over the ring on her finger blindly, "If you want to be."

Jessica playfully sighed, "Well, I think since you are the only eligible bachelor in America."

"Very funny," He huffed, rolling his eyes a bit. Jessica laughed, "Oh, hero, you know I'm joking with you. I want to be yours."

"I do. And I want to be yours, too."

Soon the waiter came back with their drinks and took their order, conversation flowing easily between Jessica and Steve for what only felt like minutes.

Jessica sputtered around her fork as she bit down onto the last of her Hotcake, covering her mouth with her hand as Steve laughed, hand on his chest.

"What do you mean you asked me out in high school?" Jessica's eyes were wide after she had swallowed her food, "I think I would have remembered that."

"I asked you if you were going to the spring dance!" Steve explained, lacing his hands together in front of him as his empty plate was to the side.

Jessica shook her head, deadpanning, "Don't even say that's the same! Steve you asked if I was going and I told you yes. That was the end of the conversation."

Steve sighed, smile playing at his lips, "I thought I did a damn good job asking you out and you rejected me. Only to go with Bucky."

"Because he wanted to make you jealous!" Jessica waved a hand around, making Steve's eyes widen, "That's why he did what he did."

"He was dancing awfully close," Steve finally huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. Jessica laughed at that, "You cannot be jealous of him right now. Look how it all turned out in the end, hero. You got me and I got you."

Steve grinned at her words and reached forward, taking her hand that was on the table. The man went to say something when he finally looked down, fingers running over her ring like they had multiple times that night.

His brows furrowed and Jessica followed his gaze, asking, "What's the matter?"

"I haven't seen that in forever," Steve whispered after a moment. When he met her eyes, Jessica softened, seeing his glossed over making her say, "I can take it off if you would like me to."

He shook his head and gulped his emotions away, "No. You're okay, I promise."

"I miss her, too, Steve," Jessica whispered, throat tightening at the sight of one of Sarah Rogers' rings on her right hand ring finger.

Steve squeezed her hand and brought the ring up to his mouth, kissing it gently.

"She really loved you, Jess," Steve gave her a tight-lipped grin. Jessica smiled softly, afraid if her expression changed she could break the man, "And I loved her, Steve. She was the most amazing woman. She was like a mother to me."

Steve nodded, "You and her are were the best women in my life. You two and Buck were really the only things that kept me together."

"You did that yourself because you're strong, Steve," Jessica shook her head, "I just was there for you to talk. You listened to me when everything happened with my father and my mother. I just reciprocated the same respect."

"Mom wanted us to get together," Steve smiled, remembering the many conversations they had revolving his love for the redhead in front of him.

Jessica tilted her head, an interested look crossing her features, "She did? She never said anything to me."

Steve chuckled, repeating what Sarah had to him at sixteen, "Because I was the man and I should've been the one asking you out."

"Oh, gender roles," Jessica rolled her eyes playfully. Steve only smiled at that, "We don't believe in those, correct?"

Jessica shook her head, "I'm not going to be some damsel in distress you have to save all the time with your new muscles, Steve Rogers. Women are highly underestimated. There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise."

"I think I can agree with that, Jessica Lynne Martin," Steve chuckled, "You're the strongest woman I know."

Jessica bit her lip, squeezing his hand in hers, "Do you know why I became a nurse?"

Steve furrowed his brows, not knowing where Jessica was going with the conversation.

"I thought you wanted to just help people?"

"Not that's not exactly why, Steve," She gave him a tight-lipped smile, "I wanted to honor your mother. I saw the way she loved and cared for the world and I wanted to do the same. She was the strongest woman I knew and I looked up to her. Before-"

Jessica paused, carefully figuring out what to say, "Before what happened. She wanted me to become a nurse, too. She said I had the heart of one. Plus, I knew how to help heal people."

Steve kissed her knuckles once more, whispering, "I didn't know that."

"I figured that it wasn't that important-" Steve cut her off, "Jess, that's important to me. You two are the most important women in my life. I know how much she meant to both of us."

Jessica went to say something to Steve when the waiter came over, nervousness in his voice.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but we're actually closing."

Jessica turned behind her to see the pale moonlight shining through and said, "Oh, I am sorry. We didn't even realize."

"May I have the check please then, sir?" Steve questioned.

The teenager handed it to Steve and the man quickly handed him the money, nodding with a smile as he said, "Keep the change, kid."

Steve stood as Jessica gathered the plates and silverware, placing everything in a simple pile for the young boy. Her boyfriend's grin widened at the sight of it before Jessica grabbed her purse from her side.

Jessica grabbed Steve's hand that was extended toward her, lacing it with her own as they walked out of the diner and into the darkness of the late night. The woman's other hand was on Steve's arm while they walked down the quiet street, Steve grinning down at her.

She furrowed her brows as he lead her down a dark alleyway and said, "Um, Steve? I love you, but this seems like you're going to murder me."

"You know I wouldn't do that," Steve rolled his eyes playfully, "I'm taking you somewhere else tonight."

"I'm very intrigued by your romantic gesture, hero," Jessica laid her head on Steve's bicep, closing her eyes as she allowed Steve to guide her where he wanted.

After a few minutes of walking, Steve bent down slightly, whispering into Jessica's hair, "We're here."

Jessica opened her eyes and they immediately brightened, a smile gracing at her lips as she bounced up and down on her toes while a small squeal left her mouth.

Steve chuckled, "Do you like it?"

"Gods, Steve," Jessica sighed, "I love it. You know how much I love the park."

"Go on."

Jessica couldn't help but laugh as she dragged Steve throughout the park, pointing out every flower and plant that was here. Steve listened to every word the woman said, loving hearing her speak of something she was so involved in.

"And this is a forget-me-not," Jessica held up the light blue flower in front of her nose, sniffing it. She held up the single small flower up to Steve and said, "For you."

"What is this for?" Steve quirked a brow, taking the flower from her. Jessica wrinkled her nose, "So you never forget me... plus it matches your eyes."

Steve sighed as he took a step toward the woman, wrapping his arms around Jessica's waist. She placed her arms on his shoulders and smirked while Steve pulled her closer to his chest so his bumped her's.

"I will never forget you, Jessica Martin,"  Steve brought his other hand around and held it between them. Jessica smiled at it and took it again, reaching up and placing it behind Steve's ear as she said, "Still. Just in case you ever forget the love of your life."

"The love of my life, huh?" Steve smirked. Jessica nodded, "Yes. The love of your life."

Steve bent down and plucked another forget-me-not from the bush beside them, making Jessica smile. He placed it behind her ear and let his fingers trail down her curly hair, Jessica sighing at the feeling.

"As long as you don't forget me, Brooklyn Baby," Steve shook his head, placing his hands back on Jessica's waist. The woman smiled, saying, "I don't think I could forget the love of my life, Steve Rogers."

"The love of your life?"

Jessica stood on her toes and pulled Steve's head down toward her, pressing her mouth on his. The red-headed woman's worries depleted as Steve bent her across his arm slightly, one hand pressed against her back holding her to him as his other made its way up her waist to cup her jaw.

The pair felt as though the belonged to each other fully as Jessica deepened their kiss, sighing against Steve's mouth as he walked them backwards. Jessica gasped against him as she was pressed into a tree, Steve holding her to him while she clung to his body.

Her hands here wrapped around his waist as Steve pulled back breathlessly, lips shaking against hers when Jessica finally opened her eyes once more. Her chest was rapidly heaving against his from their interaction, only ever wanting to stay like this with Steve.

"Yes, hero. You are the love of my life."

✧

AN: Why do they have to be so cute *pouts*