DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to anything related to Captain America.

This is fiction.

Any original characters belong to me.

Title: Worlds Apart

Author: Aveline Archer

Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Genevieve "Gin" Renard (OC)

Genre: Romance/Drama

Summary: As we climbed the stairs, my hazel eyes unwittingly drifted back towards the Captain who was watching us, he flashed me a boyish grin and I quickly looked ahead before it could disarm me completely. "He wasn't what I expected,"

1 – Wicked Game

(July 1942)

The red velvet curtains swung across the stage as the orchestra lingered on the last deafening cord, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and I fought the urge to roll my hazel eyes. I mentally scolded myself for allowing my friend; Bette to choose the entertainment for our first night of leave in Seattle. We were stationed at Pearl harbour with the Army Nurse's Corps, and while the worse injuries we dealt with were sunburn, it was refreshing to be away from the sandy beaches and sun soaked palm trees in favour of some good old fashion rain.

Bette clapped wildly, grinning ear to ear and jumped up from her seat as Captain America came waltzing back on stage. The crowd cheered as he waved and smiled to them, touching them with his charm so they'd buy war bonds on their way out of the theatre.

"Wasn't that amazing?" Bette gushed.

"Not really," I muttered rising from my seat, and ran my hands over my knee length skirt to smooth out the wrinkles in the fine black material. I adjusted my matching black jacket, feeling the crisp white shirt underneath grace my bare skin. "The man is prancing around on stage, pretending he's a soldier, it's insulting to the men actually fighting and dying in Europe."

Bette cringed at the scorn in my voice, "He's keeping the people happy, rather than thinking about the war,"

"By being a dancing poodle?" I questioned leading her out into the aisle where we followed the crowd into the theatre entrance, while most headed out into the cool night we lingered near a quiet corner.

"I think he's wonderful." She stated stubbornly, running a hand through her blonde locks. "And my uncle says we can meet him," she pulled a piece of paper from her purse and took my elbow, walking us towards the side entrance where two burly men stood guard and stopped the enthusiastic females from getting by. "Excuse me!" Bette and I weaved through the crowd, she handed over her uncle's handwritten note and we were allowed pass.

We descended the grand stairs covered in lush red carpet into the chaos of the backstage area, lit up by a chandelier looming above us. Female dancers still in their stars and stripes costumes stood in small groups, smoking and talking, while male crew members moved large pieces of scenery.

"There he is!" Bette hissed in my ear and I followed her gaze across the room to where Captain America signed autographs for a small group of children, they were eventually ushered away by their parents and their hero pulled off his cap revealing the man beneath. "Let's go over!"

"Oh joy." I muttered under my breath, glancing around as Bette approached him.

"Captain America?"

"Hi,"

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, I really enjoyed the show. I'm Bette, and this is my best friend; Genevieve," she tugged on my arm and my attention was instantly caught up in the tall, handsome blonde man standing before me. He shook Bette's free hand, projecting the awkwardness of someone not use to attention.

"It's nice to meet you both." He extended his hand to me, and I gently slipped my hand into his.

"And you Captain,"

"Call me Steve," the corners of his thin lips twitched slightly as I tugged my hand back, my fingertips tingling with the lost contact of his warmth.

"Well Steve, I think what you're doing for the cause is just wonderful," Bette released my arm and began digging through her purse. "Would you sign my poster?"

"Sure ma'am." He accepted the poster and pen she handed him and signed his name. "Are you two from here?"

"Washington D.C actually," I answered causing his gaze to lift and focus upon me.

"You don't sound American ma'am,"

"That's because I'm not." A small shade of red formed in the apple of his cheeks as I held his gaze longer than necessary.

"Genevieve and I are Army nurses; we're on a week's leave."

"Really? Where are you stationed?"

"Pearl Harbour," I replied noticing his light blue eyes appeared more interested in us now he learnt we weren't some floozy's after his limelight.

"I'm meant to be doing a show out there next month,"

"The girls will love that!" Bette carefully folded up the poster and stashed it back in her purse. "We've all got your posters,"

"Really?" He glanced at me even though Bette laughed and rested a hand upon his muscular arm.

"Everyone but Genevieve, she prefers Errol Flynn, but I have your poster beside my bed." Bette's long lashes fluttered at the Captain and he blushed again. "I'd love to give you a tour of the island when come,"

"That's really nice of you ma'am, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time to sightsee."

"Don't be silly Captain; the nurses would love to show you around the base, it would be no trouble at all."

"I'm sure it wouldn't be ma'am," he caught my sarcasm and effortlessly dodged it. "Maybe you could lead the group tour, and show me some of your favourite places,"

"That wouldn't be very exciting; she spends most of her time at the hospital restocking and cleaning equipment." I shot Bette a dark look but she didn't seem to notice. "The rest of us go to the beach, or into town. Do you dance Steve?"

"Not really ma'am."

"Well we should probably be on our way; it was nice to meet you." I linked my arm with Bette's, quickly turning us around and manoeuvring back through the crowd. As we climbed the stairs, my hazel eyes unwittingly drifted back towards the Captain who was watching us, he flashed me a boyish grin and I quickly looked ahead before it could disarm me completely. "He wasn't what I expected,"

"Are you admitting I was right?"

"Worse, I'm admitting I was wrong." I murmured, our heels tramping over the lush carpet until we left the theatre and walked into the wet night.

"He was amazing wasn't he?"

"What's amazing is that you've conveniently forgotten about your boyfriend in Hawaii," we stood huddled together beneath the cover of the theatre front, watching the fat drops of rain fall off the marque above us and yellow cabs race through the puddles and splash unsuspecting victims.

"Well it doesn't matter; Steve appeared more interested in you than me. And even after you were mean to him,"

"I wasn't mean –"

"Well you weren't nice." She retorted looking around at our surroundings. "Oh, there's a payphone across the street, I should call uncle and let him know we enjoyed the show."

"I'll wait here."

Bette nodded quickly crossing the street to enter the small diner, while I shivered, vainly rubbing my arms to bring me some warmth, when the light around me dimmed slightly.

"Are you lost ma'am?"

I glanced up from the wet pavement to discover the Captain now standing beside me in civilian clothing and still every bit as handsome as he was in his Captain America uniform. "No, I'm waiting for Bette."

"So you're from England?"

"What gave me away?" I mentally savoured the way I could make him blush, my red lips curving into a smile as I decided to put him out of his misery. "Actually I'm from a country called New Zealand."

"Was that so hard?" He murmured matching my smile. "Y'know, for a nurse, your bedside manner isn't that great,"

"I'm sure you wouldn't complain if you were wounded and I turned up at your bedside,"

"No I wouldn't." He muttered sheepishly glancing sideways at me, as my teeth dug into my bottom lip, suppressing the grin dying to form upon my lips. "Do you need me to call a cab for you?"

"No, Bette shouldn't be too much longer; she's just making a phone call."

He nodded burying his hands in his pant pockets, casting his blue eyes ahead to the street. "Do you have plans for your week off?"

"Not really,"

"Well if you wanted, we could…if you didn't have plans, I mean I have some free time tomorrow –"

"Spit it out Captain,"

"Do you want to get a coffee…with me…tomorrow?"

"You must be a sucker for punishment,"

The smooth piece of skin between his eyebrows scrunched up. "Why do you day that?"

"Most men that receive my verbal lashing don't really bother to ask me out."

"I never back down from a bully." He replied and I got the impression he wasn't exactly talking about me.

"How about we meet here at ten o'clock tomorrow?"

"Really?"

I nodded as we looked at each other bashfully. I looked away first and spied Bette dashing across the street back to us, her green eyes widened to see the Captain again and her lips stretched into a wide grin. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then." He nodded and I took Bette's elbow, guiding her away.

"What was that all about?"

"We're having coffee tomorrow,"

Bette looked over her shoulder and then whistled. "Captain America asked you out for coffee?"

"No one's more surprised than me, but he keeps me guessing." My lips formed a genuine smile, and I couldn't wait for the next day to dawn.

A/N - Thoughts, comments, general chit-chat always welcomed.