America's Sweetheart (Steve Rogers) - 1

16

The months rolled by as days turned into weeks, and soon the autumn of 1944 was upon them - the war showing no signs of slowing yet and Hydra, along with Schmidt and Zola, still at large. 

A recent mission for one base had proved to be rather dangerous, resulting in the plane that had carried the commandos to almost be shot down. Mo had been furious as now it would cost them precious time and money to repair. Thankfully she had Howard to hand, and he was able to provide her with the parts and whatever else she needed. If he wasn't too busy then sometimes he'd come and help her with repairs for an hour or two. 

Her relationship with Steve had flourished despite the potential brushes with death. He was currently hunched over a map that he'd laid out on top of a crate in the hangar while she was deep within the belly of the aircraft, flashlight, and tools to hand. She was also covered in oil which wasn't anything new. They had no whereabouts on Schmidt or Zola, just dead end leads that were proving to be frustrating. They couldn't complain though, with each Hydra facility that fell, it would only bring them closer to Red Skull, and they were closing in.

Every mission would bring the same nerves to Mo. She'd never been the type to be nervous, but the worry was more that Steve wouldn't return. Those were the nights she'd not sleep at all, listening out for any sign that the group had come back. Almost always it would be in the mornings and not the early hours. Most raids were done at night as the darkness provided them with the opportunity to stay hidden until they would strike.  

All eyes were on Captain America and his Howling Commandos.

"You should take a break." Steve looked up from the map. Mo mumbled something he couldn't quite hear and in the end he made his way over to the ladder. "Lizzie."

Immediately her head appeared, and she looked rather unimpressed. "Steven."

"You've been up that ladder for ages, now get on down here so I can kiss you before Bucky decides to come and annoy me for the rest of the afternoon." She descended the ladder, and he passed her a rag to wipe the oil from her hands. "You've got a bit right...there..." he rubbed a dirt mark from her cheek as her eyes flickered up to meet his. "Beautiful..." before leaning in and kissing her deeply. He could have quite easily scooped her up and taken her back to his cabin there and then. They'd done well to get this far however Steve was sure that some people had their suspicions, Peggy included - however no one had made any comment.

The other day when someone had been documenting one of the missions on film, they'd turned the camera to his compass that was out as the group had to map out a new route. He'd clocked on and quickly put it away, but was sure they'd seen Mo's picture. It wasn't that he was ashamed, but he didn't like the idea of his love life being the topic of discussion. It was between him and Mo, and the moments they did get in private were the best ones. They were the moments where he could just be Steve, and not Captain America.

"Darling?" Her voice jolted him from his thoughts.

"Hm? Sorry...just thinking."

"That's dangerous." She jested lightly, and now went to look at the map he'd been studying. "Last couple of bases to go...do you think we'll ever catch him?" She spoke about Schmidt.

Steve checked to make sure the coast was clear and then slipped his arms around her waist from where he was behind her, chin resting on her shoulder. "Zola would provide us with more answers, we've still come up with nothing though, but he's out there somewhere." And brushed his lips across her neck.

Part of him wished that he could be anywhere but here right now. This could be them standing in their home, the war long since finished, no duties to fulfil. It would be a nice and quiet life.

One day. Once this was all over then they could start thinking seriously about their future. He'd already decided that he would marry her in a heartbeat, but for now? Their focus was on bringing down Hydra and to hopefully win the war.

"We get Zola, and he could lead us to Schmidt." She said quietly. "And once that is over? Perhaps the war will be too." They could only hope. Surely it couldn't go on for any longer than it already had?

"I know...that's why I want to get to him than the man himself." 

"You will, I have every confidence in you." 

Steve released her from his embrace and let her get back to work. "When do you think it'll be completed?" He asked of the plane that was looking better than it had after they'd returned. 

"Howard's lending a hand this afternoon, he's pretty nifty when it comes to things like this so i'm hoping by the end of next week we'll be in the air again. Even that is wishful thinking." 

"And this is where I have every confidence in you." He repeated her earlier words and folded up the map. "I need to find Bucky, we've got a meeting with Phillips."

"Meetings with the Colonel are like a mission itself." She chuckled and got back up the ladder. "I'll see you later." 

"Where've you been?" Bucky frowned as Steve joined him and the Commandos, "I've barely seen you since we got back?" 

Steve set the map down on the table, mind elsewhere. "Just trying to decide the route."

"And that took all morning?" Bucky eyed him suspiciously. 

"This is probably the hardest we've come up against so far, but it's not the biggest." 

Dugan looked smug. "Piece of cake, eh fellas?" he looked around at the others who all nodded. "We gonna be needing a camp out for this one?" 

"Looks like it. I've marked a potential area but we're gonna need to stake out the area beforehand." 

"and that is where dear Britannia comes in. " Bucky stated, watching as Steve's expression faltered slightly. He'd been wondering whether there was something going on, after all his friend was becoming harder to find at times, and at just the mention of Mo, he had a certain look on his face. On one occasion, Bucky could've sworn that he'd seen the pilot's picture in Steve's compass, but hadn't managed to get a proper glimpse. He wouldn't press it just yet, it was nice to see his friend content - even if they were at war. Perhaps he'd talk to him about it when the others weren't around. If Steve would actually open up to him on this one. 

Steve nodded and looked a little awkward before changing the subject. Attention turning back to the task at hand.