Steve decided that he wanted to throw y/n a small birthday party. He would invite Sam, Clint, and Bruce since y/n had gradually warmed up to the three and talked to them without hiding behind Steve. He also decided to go ahead and tell her because he wasn't sure if she would want to be surprised.

Y/n was actually excited, and just seeing her smile made Steve happy. He already had food and decorations. Now he just had to find the right gift.

Of course his feelings for y/n had never faltered. If anything, his love for her only grew exponentially. He just didn't know what to do. She had basically just met him a month ago, and she didn't know him. He wanted to get her something nice that showed her how much he cared for her without going too over the top.

He lied in bed starting at the ceiling as he continued to think about what to get her.

Steve was trying hard to find a job. He needed to get one soon to be able to stay in his tiny apartment. He took a journal with him to the park while he got ready for his next job interview.

Steve opened the journal and began to sketch the lake in front of him. That's when he saw her. Y/n was sitting at the edge of the lake, and he thought he heard her crying. He got up and walked over to her sitting down on the grass beside her.

"Y/n?" He whispered.

She looked up with a tear stained face. "Oh... Steve... I... I didn't realize you were here." She smiled wiping her face with her hands.

"Y/n... Don't try to put on a happy face for me. We're the best of friends. We can be real with each other. Besides, you're always there for me. Let me be there for you."

Her smile faded as she nodded. "You're right Stevie."

She didn't speak after that for a while.

"It's... It's just I'm nervous. I heard that they might be letting some people go at my job. I mean I'm probably worrying for nothing."

"Oh Sunshine, they'd be crazy to let you go. I don't think you've ever missed a day. I think I even remember you've taken some of your coworkers' hours when they got sick or had to leave. Because you're so smart at remembering lines."

Y/n still didn't say anything. Instead she looked in another direction. Steve felt bad that he couldn't do anything to cheer y/n up. Then he remembered his journal.

He gently grabbed her hand, and she slowly turned around. "I've been trying to apply for jobs. In fact, I have an interview later on in the evening with the local school for the art teacher position. I was planning on showing them this journal."

He let go of her hand to let her take his journal. She opened it up and gasped. One of the first drawings was of her and Steve as toddlers. His journal contained sketches of the both of them, places and scenery, and random people he'd wanted to draw.

"Stevie, all these drawings are so beautiful." She looked to him and smiled. Then she continued to look at his drawings.

"Ah. There's that smile. Would you marry me now?"

He thought he saw her blush, but he never got a response.

Steve woke up, and that's when he realized what he should give her. He just... needed to visit the National American History museum. This time instead of just taking it, he decided to ask.

Apparently they didn't mind at all. It was in archives anyway. He took it happy that it was still in decent condition for being almost eighty years old. He wrapped it up and put it in his backpack.

He went back to his floor in the tower, and he saw y/n cooking in the kitchen. The smell of his favorite food wafted through the entire floor. He quickly went to his room to put up the journal.

He walked back to the kitchen to see that y/n had finished cooking. She smiled as she grabbed bowls and cups.

"I hope you don't mind me making dinner tonight. I remembered you saying just how much you liked it so I thought I'd make some."

Steve smiled walking to her to give her a hug. "Thank you Sunshine."

There he went again. He called her Sunshine, and her heart began to beat quickly. They both ate on the couch watching Pretty in Pink on y/n's request.

"So... Why is chicken and dumplings your favorite meal? If I may ask." Y/n asked after the movie.

"Well... I used to look a lot different before I got my enhanced strength. I guess you could say. I was always getting sick, and someone very dear to me would always insist on taking care of me. She'd always make it, and so now ... even back then, when I'd see the food it... It would always remind me of her." Steve replied.

Y/n nodded looking at her empty bowl. Then she looked back to Steve. "The girl.... Was I the girl?"

".... Yes... You were... You still are." Steve barely whispered.

They both blushed at that point. Y/n quickly got up to put her bowl away. Before Steve could talk to her, she had already made it to her room shutting the door.

He wanted to ask what was wrong, but he really didn't know what to do. Instead he cleaned the dishes and put the rest of the food in the refrigerator. Then, he sat by the large window and looked at all the lights from the skyscrapers surrounding the tower.

Y/n finally met Steve back at the park. She sat down on the ground beside him as they looked at the lake.

"I did it. They offered me the job as the art teacher for the elementary school, and I'm taking it Sunshine."

"Oh... Steve I'm so proud for you." Y/n half-heatedly smiled.

"What... What's wrong?"

"Oh Steve... I've ruined your day. I'm so sorry."

"You haven't ruined my day. Now please tell me what's wrong."

"Well you know how I told you I was scared that I'd be let go?"

"Oh Sunshine... I'm sor"

"I didn't. I got promoted, but they want me to move to California."

Steve frowned. He knew y/n's acting career would come to light. He was proud of her, but he didn't want her to leave.

"I don't know what to do. My heart is torn. I love to act, and this is an opportunity of a lifetime."

"What's holding you back?"

"Nothing is holding me back Stevie. I just... I love too many things here." She looked down and remained quiet.

"I know there's a lot you love here, but you'll find new things to love in California too." Steve tried to smile.

"Maybe there will be, but there's one thing I know I won't find there that I have here."

Steve wondered what she couldn't find there that she had here. That's when she interrupted his thoughts.

"Stevie... Umm... There's something I want to tell you. In fact, I've tried to tell you several times when I had some bit of courage, but things happened."

She took a breath and smiled reaching out to grab his hand. "Steve ... I... I don't want to leave New York because that's where my home is."

"I'll keep it safe for you Sunshine. I promise."

She laughed squeezing his hand. "I know you would Stevie, but that home doesn't matter as much as the home I'm talking about."

"I don't understand y/n."

"Well they say home is where the heart is. So... My home is the man I'm in love with." She whispered as a blush tinted her cheeks.

"... And don't you dare ask me who it is. You know who it is. I love you Steven Grant Rogers. I have for a long time, probably since we were five. My heart is yours. I just... I don't want to leave you."

"Sunshine... I... I love you too. I always have, but I think you should go. It's always been your dream. You're such a good actress y/n."

"Thank you Steve... I have several months to think about it."

"Know that whatever you choose, I'll support you."

"Thank you Stevie."

After that they didn't say much. Rather, they stared lovingly at each other, and they didn't want it any other way.

Steve broke out of his trance when he heard a voice.

"I'm here to help you decorate." Natasha spoke as she brought in all sorts of decorations.

Steve got up and walked over to her.  "Thank you. I'm sorry I didn't invite you."

"It's okay. I know she doesn't trust me yet. I can understand though. It took me a long time to trust a lot of people, even Clint. She's making progress though."

They began to decorate the apartment, and Steve kept wanting to see if y/n was okay, but he assumed she was already asleep.

"I heard that Bruce and Tony are getting close to making some sort of contraption that will get y/n her memories back."

Steve turned to Nat and frowned. "What if she doesn't like her past? What if she wants a clean start?"

"Then she won't use it, and it won't go to waste if we find Barnes."

Steve nodded continuing to decorate the apartment. His mind raced until Natasha spoke once more.

"You've loved her this whole time, haven't you?"

Steve turned around, and at that instant, Natasha knew how deeply in love Steve Rogers was.

"Of course I have. My heart is hers to have. Even if nothing can be done, I'll still love her. If she falls in love with someone else, my heart will still be hers. Even now, I love her. Nothing will change that."

Natasha walked over to him to give him a hug. "Hey, you know we're all doing everything we can to help you both right? Even if you do belong in a history museum."

Steve laughed as he let go to continue decorating. "Of course I do, and I appreciate it very much."

Eventually, they finished decorating, and Nat left. Steve turned all the lights out and went to his room. Once again, he was left with all the thoughts in his head.

Y/n had gone over to Steve's house. After their declaration of love and y/n's job offer, the two had been closer than ever. Unfortunately they weren't dating nor had they shared a kiss or anything of the sort. They both thought it was in their best interest to remain friends until y/n decided what she was going to do. She didn't have much time left, and she still was going back and forth between the two things she loved.

She wasn't really talking. She rested her head on his shoulder and held his hand. The only sounds came from the Frank Sinatra vinyl on Steve's record player.

Steve got up extending his hand to her. "Dance with me."

She couldn't resist those ocean blue orbs and took a hold of his hand. He began to lead her through a waltz in his tiny cramped living room. She placed her head back on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"I love you so much Sunshine." He whispered.

"I love you too Stevie. I'll always love you." She snuggled closer to him.

"Then marry me."

Before she could respond, he pulled away from her and got down on one knee. Then, he pulled out a velvet blue box. He opened it to reveal a beautiful gold band with intricate designs and a single pearl. Y/n raised her hands to cover her mouth, and she felt tears slip down her eyes.

"It was Ma's. She gave it to me before she went back to help take care of soldiers in the war. She knew that one day we'd finally admit how we feel, and one day get married.... I know this is all fast, but I just love you so much. I want to marry you and grow old with you. You're my Sunshine. So y/f/n, will you marry me?"

She didn't respond. Tears streamed down her face, and Steve stood up quickly wiping her tears away.

"Hey... It's okay... We don't have to..."

"No... No... Stevie... I want to get married to you. I would love to get married to you and grow old with you. It's just that I accepted the job in California. I'm leaving in two days." She frowned. "I... I'd take you with me, but this is all paid for. I wouldn't be able to go if I had to pay myself."

"Oh.... I... I see. Well we could still write."

"Of course we will.

They both remained silent. Then, all the sudden... y/n kissed him. Before Steve could react, she pulled away and left him to his thoughts. That would be one of the last times he saw her.

Steve woke up in a sweat. That's when he saw y/n sitting on a chair beside his bed asleep holding onto his hand. He began to calm down as he got up. He picked her up bridal style taking her to one of the couches. He covered her up then sat down on the other chair. He stared out the window and pulled out a new journal beginning to draw to get his mind off everything that had been happening.

As always, no matter what happened, he just was very thankful that she was back in his care. Now he just had to wait for y/n to wake up so they could celebrate her birthday. Together