America's Sweetheart (Steve Rogers) - 1

Prologue

2014

Even after it had spent years preserved alongside him in ice, the picture in Steve Rogers compass had survived any potential damage. It had only faded slightly, the outside of the compass taking more of the damage in terms of scratches and whatnot, but the face inside that always stared back at him whenever he opened it was still clear, and would always remain so.

Her face would be clear as day not just to him, but to the people who learned about her. Steve hadn't really known whether The Smithsonian would honour her when he had been told that there was to be an exhibition about him. He didn't particularly like the idea, but had graciously accepted it all the same. The kids today could at least learn of just what their country had gone through and the people who had served. 

Currently, that was where he was now. Sat incognito on a bench out of everyone's way, just staring at the exhibit in front of him. He came here sometimes when he needed to breathe, or to just reflect after a mission. Today it was the first. 

The exhibit was hers...containing her story (their one was just after but Steve much preferred to read and re-read hers over and over). Some of her possessions that had been donated rather kindly by relatives were displayed. Everything from her lipstick to her pilots log, along with a short film on a small screen next to the glass display cabinet that housed the last link to his lover. 

It was bittersweet. The fact that he'd been given another chance and yet still couldn't share it with her. Life was never fair, and Steve had certainly found that out when he'd returned and learned of what had happened.

April 17th. The date had always stuck with him ever since he'd read the files that were given to him by Fury. He'd grieved alone, and would do so every year on that date. It wasn't the date that he'd taken the Valkyrie down, but the day that the war had lost her.

April 17th, 1945. Just a mere month or so after he'd gone into the ice.

Elizabeth Ramona Carter (or Mo, as she'd simply gone by) had never meant to make a name for herself or intend to be consider a 'poster girl' for female aviation, all she'd wanted to do was get in the air and do her bit, but now in present day she'd been woven into history, and everyone knew her name. A plucky eighteen-year-old, she'd been one of the first ATA pilots to sign up and complete her training, flying over 40 different types of aircraft within her short career. She'd been a strong advocate for equal pay for women pilots and had won her case. 

These were things that had made her the ideal candidate for the SSR. She was strong willed, outspoken and Colonel Phillips had no idea just what had hit him when she'd first come onto base. It was just a shame she'd never got to do as much flying on coming to America. Something that Steve had tried to persuade Phillips into letting her resume,  and he had agreed on a few occasions, however he much preferred for the younger Carter sister to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Whether it be filing away important papers for him or deep within the belly of an aircraft fixing it up. 

Steve's eyes kept fixed on the compass, the sounds of gunfire, explosions and shouting forever living in the back of his mind. It would never truly leave. He'd been back for two years and still felt like he was making very little progress when it came to adjusting to modern life. Nat had tried setting him up on dates, however he'd always politely declined. In times like these, he couldn't afford to look for love.

And he didn't want to.

Despite their physical appearance. Peggy and Mo Carter couldn't have been anymore different in character. An observation that Steve had made upon first meeting them, which had been two separate occasions. Peggy had been first. They had arrived at Camp Lehigh and she'd been present with Colonel Phillips to greet them. It wasn't hard to ignore her. she stood out with dark hair and eyes to match. He'd been taken with her just as the others had been.

Mo had been the next day during training, first she'd punched Private Hodge square in the nose when he'd insulted her and then later on she'd thrown a dummy grenade straight in the middle of them all. A very different cut to her sister. She was blunter with her words, a woman who didn't keep her feet on the ground, so he'd found out later on from when the other men spoke of her.

Back then the Carter sisters were always the main topic of conversation around the base and everyone knew of them. But Mo's attitude hadn't been the first thing that stood out to him, nor was her aviation attire. It had been her eyes. In contrast with her dark hair like Peggy's, they were blue. Something that Hodge had said bore into his soul for all the wrong reasons. "It's like she wants to kill you..." he'd warned them all as he checked his nose wasn't broken later that evening. "Steer clear of that one, she's mad."

Another man had laughed, having been there for longer. "No one dares cross Captain Carter. She'd have you for breakfast."

"Wish she damn well would." Another made a vulgar joke.

Steve hated the way some of them spoke about Peggy and Mo, or just the female agents in general. He'd already tried to stand up for them and instead had received some amusing looks. "Like they'd go for you little guy."

Steve smirked at the memory but in truth he'd had the last laugh. She'd chosen him. Mo had chosen him. And not just because he was 'Captain America' like so many women back then and now had wanted him for. She'd chosen Steve Rogers, the little guy from Brooklyn. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the familiar shape of someone sit down next to him and briefly look his way. "So...that's your girl." Sam Wilson's voice broke the silence as he stared at the exhibit. 

Steve looked across at his friend and smiled lightly, "Was." 

And she would always remain that way. His best girl, his sweetheart. No one would or even could take that from her. 

"She certainly sounded like she could kick someone's ass." Sam smirked to himself, "You gonna tell me about her?" 

He paused. People only knew the stories that had been passed down, the ones that had made it into the exhibition, documented through film reels and pictures. They had never known of the more intimate details or events behind them. Steve liked that he could just have those moments and memories all to himself. 

With a grin, Steve shook his head as he thought back to the time that shouldn't be yearning for. 

"No, I don't think I will."