Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Pairing: Steve/Beth (the waitress, it's on her nametag, I swear!), allusions to others.

Summary: He probably won't ever read the letter and that's okay with Beth, it really is. Because all she wants to do is thank him. Post Avengers. Steve/Beth (the waitress)

Author's Note: Post Avengers, will contain some spoilers for the movie. I hope you all like it. I'm not sure if I should continue this, so reviews are greatly appreciated, seriously, anything you guys have to say is important to me! Thanks for taking the time to read! Also, I apologize in advance for any mistakes!

Sincerely

Part 1

"We can't all be heroes, because somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by."

Will Rogers

She doesn't know why she does it. It's not like she has anything to gain in doing this. Then again, it's not like she has anything to lose either. The thing is, her hands start to clam whenever she thinks about it. He heart starts to beat faster and she wonders how no one seems to hear it. So, she leaves it for another day and hopes that she can gather the courage to actually do it.

The rational part of her mind tries to convince her that it doesn't mean anything. That it's just something she can do to get it off her chest because no one, none of her friends, none of her professors, none of her co-workers want to hear about it. And she can understand that, she really truly can, except she wants to talk about it. She wants to talk about what happened. She wants to talk about the fear that gripped her; she wants to talk about that breathless moment when she was sure that she was going to die. She wants to talk about the not-so-masked Avenger who saved them all, who saved her. She wants to talk about Captain America.

She doesn't want gush about him and how handsome he is (of course he is, he's Captain America), she wants to talk about how brave he is, how selfless he is, how completely heroic he is. She wants to talk about the lives he saved and she just…she wants to thank him.

When that news reporter shoved the microphone in front of her face, she was just coming off from the shock of almost dying. Her adrenaline was deteriorating and she could feel her sanity slip away from her fingers, she could feel anxiety and panic rear its ugly head and all she could think about was Captain America and how he saved them, saved her. So, she thanked him then but it wasn't enough, she doesn't think it will ever be enough.

(After that interview, she left in a daze, only to collapse against a brick wall in an alley and then she started crying. Her hands were shaking and she could feel her entire body tremble with sobs and all she wanted was for someone to tell her that everything would be okay. No one ever did).

Its two weeks after the attack and life has somewhat gotten back to normal. She's back in classes, she's back to throwing herself into her studies and she takes as many shifts as possible at the diner. She needs the money, she needs the distraction and she won't lie, she holds on to a glimmer of hope that she may see Captain America. She never does but she never gives up hope either.

She's at the library on a Sunday night, trying to finish an assignment when she finds that she can't concentrate. So, she pushes her laptop away and grabs her notebook. She stares at the lined paper for a few moments, her hands start to sweat, her heart beats loudly and images of that day, of that horrific, whirlwind of a day swarm her thoughts.

She takes a deep breath and puts pen to paper.

There is a memorial down the street from where she lives. People go there to mourn for their friends and loved ones who died that day. People go there to find comfort; she goes there to remind herself that she's okay. That despite the nightmares and despite the panic attacks that sometimes come out of nowhere, she's okay.

A little ways down, it stops being a memorial and starts to become a celebration. Paintings of the Avengers along with various cards, flowers, teddy bears celebrate the people who saved them all. She makes her way down and stands in front of Captain America. She sighs and looks at the envelope in her hand. She bends down, grabs a rock and places it on the envelope, letting it settle in between the sincere thanks of may before her and the many that will come after her.

He probably won't ever read the letter and that's okay with Beth, it really is. Because all she wants to do is thank him.

When he woke up, he woke up in a different New York than the one he knew and now…well, now, it's more different. He was becoming used to the idea of being anonymous. He was okay with punching boxing bags until they ripped open and he was okay with watching the sand as it trickled out of the bag that he tore open. He was okay with not being known.

In fact, he liked it better that way.

In the past, no one really knew him because the mask did an okay job with protecting his identity, but during the battle with the Chitauri, his mask was torn off and suddenly his face (his real face, not his masked face) is everywhere. And Steve, well Steve isn't sure what to think about it.

He still doesn't leave his loft, at least not unless he has to and when he does leave it, it's usually at night, where there's less chance to be recognized. He sometimes goes to see Stark and Banner. They live in Stark Towers, Tony is almost gleeful about making Bruce's floor completely Hulk-proof and Bruce just shrugs and says that Pepper told him there would be free food. Pepper for her part just rolls her eyes and tells Steve that they're like two children having a sleepover, except it's for 365 days a year.

He gets together with Natasha sometimes. The redhead usually just appears at his door and then makes herself at home. They don't usually talk. Instead, they usually just go to the gym and train with each other. He used to feel bad for hitting her, until she clocked him in the face and demanded that he fight. So, he fights with Natasha now but he always makes sure to reel in his strength.

He talks to Clint as often as he can. They mostly talk about baseball and sometimes he joins in with his and Natasha's training. Sometimes, they all get together at one of Tony's many houses and they eat and laugh. It's usually always awkward but it's getting easier to be in the same room together. They're starting to become more comfortable with each other.

(They toast to Coulson every time they eat together and leave a seat empty just for him).

Some nights though, Steve will make his way down to the memorial. He watches as the candles flicker out in the breeze and he studies every single picture of those lost. He memorizes every single victim's name and when he's feeling particularly dark and bitter, he hopes that Loki's punishment is painful, just so he can feel a sliver of pain that everyone else is feeling. And sometimes though, sometimes, he'll make his way down the memorial path and he'll come to stop in front of the Avengers celebration area.

He still feels weird knowing that people actually admire him, that people actually want to be him. (Sometimes he wants to tell them that no, no, they don't want to be him, they don't want to go through what he did).

Steve is observant, so he notices the difference right away. There is a plain white envelope beneath a rock. He frowns and bends down to grab the envelope. He tilts it towards the light of the moon and makes out the words on the envelope. Captain America.

Unfortunately, Steve has always been curious.

He's back in his loft, sitting on the couch, body slouched in front of the television with the lights on. He stares at the envelope, sighs and opens it hesitantly; wary of what could be in it. He frowns as he takes the folded papers out. When he straightens the pieces of paper, he can see that the writing is delicate, feminine.

He takes a deep breath and starts to read.

Dear Captain America,

I know you probably won't ever read this and that's okay with me. It really is. I'm not writing this to get an answer back from you. I'm writing this, mostly for me, because there's something that I need to get off my chest.

Two weeks ago, I almost died. Two weeks ago, I started the day normally and by the end of it I was walking through a destroyed city. I don't know if you've ever had you're entire life ripped from underneath your feet, but on that day, two weeks ago, I did. The thing is, I almost died. Almost. But I didn't and it's because of you.

There are people who insult the Avengers and demand that they take responsibility for their actions but as far as I'm concerned, you did. You saved millions of people. Millions of people owe you and your friends their lives. I don't want to know what would have happened if you weren't around. I'd most likely be dead and that thought scares me. It continues to scare me when I wake up in the middle of the night, breathing hard and terrified from nightmares.

You see, Captain America, I've never believed in heroes. To me, they didn't exist because I've always thought the world was just filled with bad guys. That changed the day you barreled into my life. You probably don't even remember me and I'm okay with that, really I am, but I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for us, for me, that day.

So, I hope you don't mind me holding onto the memory of you when life gets hard for me. I hope you don't mind that its you I think about when I get panic attacks or when the nightmares get to be too much. I know that I'll probably never see you again so here it is, this is my admission, this is me telling you how much you mean not only to me but to the world.

Sincerely,

Beth Williams

Steve lets out a deep breath he didn't realize he was holding and looks around his loft. Without thinking, he reaches over and grabs a notebook and pen from the table and starts to write.

As if I really need to be doing this. As in, I really don't need to be doing this. It's been in my mind since I've seen the movie (twice). I just think that it would be cute. Or maybe not. If you all like it, I've got more planned. Let me know what you all think! I just really needed this out of my head, lol.

Reviews are very much appreciated and I will send you all lots of love, hugs and kisses!

Thanks!

Bex