2 years later
1942

"Ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all."

"Right. When pigs fly."

Steve laughed and shook his head, making the girl that Bucky had brought along eye him strangely and move a little farther away.

"Got a problem?" You asked.

Bucky let out a nervous chuckle and put an arm around your shoulders, gripping you tightly as you directed your scowl at him.

"Don't mind her. She's just messin' around."

The girl half-winced and turned her attention back to where Howard Stark's "flying" car had just crashed back to the stage.

"So help me, Barnes, if you squeeze me any tighter."

Steve, taking the hint from the warning look Bucky was giving you and the cold glare you were returning, took your hand and gently pulled you to the side.

"Come on, lets go look around."

You nodded and followed after your boyfriend as he made his way through the crowd of uniformed soldiers and their gals, a last night out for them. You knew how hard it was on Steve, being rejected from joining the army numerous times and although you were secretly relieved that he'd live another day, you wished someone would give him a chance. You had both ended up in front of a recruitment center and you watched as Steve, almost trance-like, stepped up to the mirror with a soldier's uniform. There was a strong desire in his eyes that made your heart drop a little as you watched his small figure barely reach the top.

"Hey. You two are missing the point of a double date."

Steve walked off the platform and you crossed your arms as Bucky nudged your hip.

"I don't like your date anyways," you said, poking your tongue at him.

"Connie's not that bad. We're going dancing, you coming with?"

Bucky gave you the irresistible puppy eyes that you could never, ever say no to and you sighed loudly.

"Fine. Come on, Steve. Let's go step all over each other's feet."

"You two go ahead. I'll catch up with you."
"You're really gonna do this again?"

You raised your eyebrows as he sighed.

"Well, it's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."
"As who? Steve from Ohio? They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you." Bucky snapped.

"Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me," Steve argued, his face set determinedly.

"Right. Cause you got nothing to prove."

The three of you went silent and you knew it would be a waste trying to talk him out of it. One of Steve's redeeming qualities that just so happened to be a very annoying one at the moment: persistence.

"Hey Sarge! Are we going dancing?"

"Yes we are."

You looked over your shoulder at Bucky's date who stood waiting with another girl.

She gave you the up-and-down eyes and whispered in the blonde's ear, making the girl giggle.

"Bite me." You mouthed.

"Don't do anything stupid until I get back," Bucky said, slowly backing away.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."

"You're a punk."

The tall man walked forward and swept his best friend into a bone crushing hug.

"Jerk. Be careful."

He pulled away and turned to you with a goofy smile. You chuckled and straightened his cap  before pulling him in.

"You take care of yourself, Y/N. I wanna come back to the both of you."

"Seriously, Buck. You'll be careful?"
"For my best friends? Of course I will."

You smiled faintly as he ran off with the girls, disappearing into the crowd.

"You're not going with them?"

"Early shift."

You turned to Steve, his big blue eyes trained on you. You knew he was waiting for the argument that was about to ensue for the millionth time about illegal paperwork, getting caught and the possibilities of how stupid he could be. But, you didn't want to argue with him. You wanted him to do what he thought he should do and if he wasn't going to listen anyways, there was no point.

You knew Steve. He wouldn't stop trying and you didn't want to hold him back anymore.

"I'm gonna head home. Do me a favor?"

Steve nodded, never breaking eye contact with you.

"Win the war for us?"

Before he could say anything, you leaned in and kissed him softly, breaking away to see a faint gleam in his eyes.

"You know it, doll."

"I'll see you in the morning, soldier."

Tears began to grow at the corner of your eyes as you walked out of the fair and made your way down the street, the night air nipping at your cheeks. You wished more than anything that he'd get the chance, but you didn't know what you'd do without your best friend and the love of your life. They were your only family and as a gust of cold wind made you pull your coat tighter around you, a sinking feeling in your stomach was enough to make the tears fall. You had just found them and they were already gone.

————-

"Bacon with tomato and avocado."

You put the plate down in front of one of your regulars just as he clambered onto his usual stool, barely conscious due to the drunken haze he was in.

"Y/N, you're a star," he slurred, nodding his head gratefully.

"And you're a drunk, Philly. I still question your choice of both tomato and avocado," you said, picking up two more plates and going to serve them.

He chuckled before digging into the sandwich as you flashed your usual lunch rush customers a smile.

"Order up!" Monty called, ringing the bell furiously.

You hurried back around the counter, picking up the food and shooting the chef an annoyed glance.

"You do that on purpose, don't you?"

Monty raised his spatula with a grin.

"Almost as much as you beat up our customers on purpose."

"That was one time."

"I don't mind another round or two. Get some bets up and runnin'. Lotta fellas would lose money for the pure joy of betting against a woman, ya know. I'd make a lot of dough offa you."

"In your dreams, Monty."

He chuckled and you rolled your eyes before going to serve the food.

"I've got the triple decker, bacon with American cheese, and the liver sausage sandwich with split pea soup." You said brightly.

The couple thanked you and as you started to leave with the empty tray, you caught sight of a familiar face standing outside the window, openly staring at you.

At first, you couldn't understand who you were seeing until a smile that would forever be  permanently burned into your memory broke across his face.

It was like a dream as the man pushed the door open and walked right up to you, everything from the racket in the kitchen to the clamor of your customers slowly fading away as you realized who you were looking at.

"Monty, I'm going on break." You said, dazed.

The chef rang the bell twice in response and your fingers automatically undid the knot on your apron as you led him back out of the diner.

You stood in stunned silence, staring at Steve as though you couldn't believe what you were seeing...and quite honestly, you couldn't.

The Steve you knew was gone and in his place was a taller, more muscled version of the skinny man you'd come to fall in love with.  Although you were the one having to look up at him and his once wiry frame was wrapped in the tell-tale signs of pure brawn from the way his shirt strained over his chest, his eyes were still the same baby blues and his hair was, as always, out of place.

"Steve? Wh-What happened to you?" You asked softly, tracing your fingers over his shoulders.

"I was given the chance and I ran with it. He believed in me. Said I know the value of strength and compassion."

"He?"

"Dr. Erskine. He was the one that chose me for the project that...well, made me like this."

There was a sadness in his eyes that you hadn't noticed before and as you grasped his hand in yours, it was a bit strange that he was able to hold the entirety of your own.

"Well, I'm not disappointed," you teased.

"Thank goodness for that." He gave you a little smirk that faded into a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry I stayed away for so long."

"It was only a week, Stevie, I'm not entirely helpless."

"Oh, I've seen some things that can confirm that." He said with a chuckle. "And that's why I know you'll be okay."

Your smile froze on your face as Steve took both your hands in his.

"I came here to ask if you wanted to come with me, but as much as I want to be selfish and as much as I want you to be there by my side, I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you."

He paused as your breath hitched in your throat.

"So...so this is goodbye, then?" You asked.

Your voice cracked pathetically, but you didn't care.

You never thought you'd see the moment when Steve would be leaving you, but it would have happened eventually with how annoyingly stubborn he was. Still yet, you could have never prepared for something like this as he nodded morosely.

"Its a see you later. Because I promise I'll come back to you. No matter what, I'll be back for my best gal."

You rushed forward and slammed into him, wrapping your arms around his neck as he lifted you off of your feet. He was kissing you almost instantly and the need to show him how much you loved him, how much you needed him to come back to you overwhelmed you as you got lost in the passion of a very heated kiss. You broke away and leaned your forehead against his, the both of you panting slightly. He gently set you down and you drew him into a tight hug. Nuzzling your face into his neck, you placed a light kiss against his collarbone and he hummed in response, tightening his hold around your waist.

"Steve?"
"Hm?"
Do me a favor?"

He went quiet and his answering silence was almost enough to send you into sobs.

"Win the war for us?"
"You know it, doll."
"I'll see you later, soldier." You managed to choke out.

"I promise I'll come back for you, Y/N. If I have to go through the devil himself, I'll come back."

Steve's voice faded and he brought his hand up to caress your hair comfortingly as the tears steadily soaked through his shirt. You gripped the fabric desperately as though he would disappear at any moment and where he was going, the possibilities of doing so were endless.

But, he promised you and you knew Steve.

There was nothing in the world that would make him break his promise and you'd be waiting for him as long as it would take, whatever it would take.

You would wait.