Previously on your favorite daytime soap opera, 'To Love a Man Out of Time':

"You caught me by surprise, you know; beat me to the punch. Doesn't happen that often anymore," I hear him finally say softly.

Confused, I hesitantly drag my eyes up to his. A small smile blooms across his mouth.

Now, on today's episode:

"I was waiting until Fuller was out of the picture so you would feel safe and I figured that'd be a more creative gift than roses. But I guess I'll have to think of something else to give you when I pick you up for our first date."

I blink. "What?"

Steve chuckles softly at my reaction. "I haven't been completely upfront with you either, Anne." His smile grows and his eyes shine warmly. "I realized a while ago that I want to be more than friends with you."

I'm shocked in my disbelief and I'm pretty sure I make a sound like I've just swallowed my tongue. "You...but, you're you and-and amazing, and...did you forget that you're, you know, awesome? I mean, why?..." I ask, trailing off quietly as I am utterly befuddled. This is not what I was expecting.

He places his free hand on the side of my neck, just below my ear, brushing my cheekbone with his thumb. My eyes close for a brief moment and I instinctually lean into his gentle touch. "You keep putting me on this pedestal, like I'm some untouchable thing, a perfect person for trying to do what's right. But you're missing something- someone critically important." He hesitates in his explanation while he thinks of a way to explain. "It's like what Sam did with Frodo, saying there'd be stories all about Frodo's adventures and how he saved the world but Sam was completely oblivious to the fact that without him, Frodo would never have made it. Middle Earth would've been lost. You've helped me more than you can know, just by being you. Without you, I don't think I'd be where I am now. You're the Sam in my story. Strong, kind, generous, unflinchingly loyal, funny, clever, good, you're also completely captivating...how could I not fall hopelessly in love with you?"

I'm a puddle. Melted away entirely into warm goo. Words flee from me like shadows in the dawn. "Oh."

His grin flashes before he puts on a more serious face. "I should warn you though, I don't want some casual relationship with you, Anne. I know it might sound old fashioned, but I'm serious about this- about you."

I find myself beginning to smile warmly. "Steve, are you saying you're sweet on me? That you want me to be your best girl? Wear your pin?"

Steve grins good-naturedly and hugs me tighter. "Doll, I'm mad about you. Will you go steady with me?" His tone is light but his eyes are earnest.

"How could I turn down such a swell guy? I think that'd be dynamite, Steve." I answer, still not believing that this is actually happening to me. "But- just to make sure -I'm not actually high on pain meds right now, am I?"

He laughs. "No, you're not. But how 'bout I prove it to you?"

My eyes widen. He isn't, I mean, he wouldn't be so forward, would he?

Steve's gaze drops to my mouth before he pulls his burning blue eyes back up to meet my eyes. "May I?" he asks softly, studying my face.

My heart stutters like I'm having some sort of episode and I try to mentally steady myself. Since words of substance once again escape me, I nod and say, "yes, please."

His mouth quirks tenderly to the side as he tips his head closer, his eyes back on my lips. The hand he had used to caress my cheek moves to cradle the back of my neck. The tension is almost unbearable. I almost wish we were the same height or that I was able to go up on my tiptoes, just so I could meet him halfway. But as it is, I wouldn't change the way it happens for anything.

Steve moves slowly and deliberately; showing me this isn't some fling or fit of passion. He really is serious about this. His mouth is soft and firm, warm and electric, reassuring and totally foreign. I had melted before; I've all but completely dissolved into nothing now.

I won't say there are fireworks. Fireworks are a flash of color and then you're left choking on smoke. This is something else entirely. I swear I can feel a part of myself crack open, deep in my chest. Like completing a circuit, or a flower blooming in time-lapse. It's comforting, real, tangible, and better than I ever could have imagined.

After a few perfect moments, he pulls away to rest his forehead against mine, letting me catch my breath.

"Wow," his voice cracks and I can't stop my grin.

"Agreed. I thought you didn't have much practice with this kissing stuff?" I only half tease because he's left me honestly wondering. "Or is that something else the super soldier serum enhanced?"

He snorts and kisses my nose.

"I can't help but notice that you're not answering my questions."

"Maybe it's just to do with the feelings behind the actions," he suggests seriously, looking sweetly into my eyes. "I've known that I love you ever since you reminded me that doing what I know is right is more important than following the people I wanted to be right. But," his smile grows more playful, "I've wanted to kiss you ever since you risked your life to save a stranger and I've been having to stop myself from doing this exact thing every time I saw you since."

I narrow my eyes, reciprocating his teasing tone. "You've known you loved me for like, six months...and you immediately asked me for advice on dating Kate...and then dated Kate."

Steve's eyes soften as his mouth turns down apologetically. "I knew she was hiding something when I first met her. I wasn't trying to catch her in a lie or anything, but just knowing that she was holding back, keeping a part of herself from me, gave me permission to do the same. It felt safe." He studies my face lovingly, seemingly memorizing my features. "With you, I'm back to being who I was before everything happened- back to being Steve Rogers and not just the 'star spangled man with a plan'. I can't help but be myself, even when I can't tell you everything. I knew that being so close to you would make you a target and I couldn't let that happen." His jaw juts momentarily and his mouth hardens to tight line. "But then Carson took you and I realized I could protect you better if I kept you close." Steve pulls me to chest, even snugger than before.

I hum. "Well, I'm glad you finally saw reason." I lightly run my fingers through his hair, brushing it back a bit. He closes his eyes with a small, contented sigh. "I should tell you though, I beat you to the punch again. I've wanted to kiss you ever since I found out how much you enjoy 'The Lord of the Rings'." A grin steals across my mouth. "Beauty and brains."

His eyes slide open as he shakes his head with a smile.

I furrow my brow in slight suspicion as I think of something. "Did you stay quiet and offer to help me move to the other wheelchair on purpose? So we'd end up here, with me in your arms, to profess your love?"

Steve's smile is now puckish and a mischievous light shines in his eyes. "Perhaps."

My eyes widen in amused surprise.

"I may have also switched the power off in the first place so you would have to move chairs. But you have to admit that this is much more romantic than just sitting across from each other," he continues confidently.

My jaw drops a little before I mutter, "You really are a master strategist."

His eyes glint with affection. "Can you guess what my next move is?" he asks softly, glancing back down to my lips.

I smile gently in return, my heart thudding loudly in my ears. "I think you may have telegraphed your intentions."

He grins sweetly as he drifts closer. "Guess I need a few more practice runs."

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A/N: Part of why it took so long for me to update is because I. Hate. This. Chapter. If I saw a masked mugger taking all of its money and I had super spider-like abilities that could totally stop it, I wouldn't. Then said mugger would go on to murder my uncle Ben in cold blood and I'd be guilted into a life of crime-fighting, you know, 'cause "great power".

Anyway, Steve's voice feels so off and it bugs the snot out of me- especially for the 'profession of love' bit. >_< Perhaps you could tell that I don't take it seriously by how I started the chapter- subtle, no? But since I couldn't think of a more natural way to progress the story to the next beat, we're stuck with this.

Regardless, I hope you, dear readers, find some enjoyment in it. But I totally understand if it just makes you cringe. Unfortunately, as much as I hate this chapter, I think I hate the next chapter even more. So, that's great incentive for you to keep reading. *Sigh* So much hate, so little quality. I'm genuinely upset about this. I think I need to go cuddle a puppy, or something.

Side-note: I thought the gif could do double-duty representing both my frustration with this chapter and (hopefully) your excitement at reaching CaptAnne's first kiss. Also, Nathan Fillion.

Side-side-note: what do you think of that for a ship name? "CaptAnne". Too much? Not enough? Just plain weird that I'm sort of forcing a ship name on the characters in my story? I'm about as adept at naming things as Dr. Rodney McKay...

Side-side-side-note: My mom is adorable. I've told her a little bit about this story and how it's doing on Wattpad, so she asked me (in all seriousness) if I could make money writing fanfiction XD Isn't that cute?