Author's Note: So this chapter is longer than I thought it was going to be, but once I started writing it, it just flowed and well…things just came together in it. I hope you guys don't mind the length because I think you'll really have fun with this chapter.

Please enjoy.

It had been a long day of wrangling scientists at Stark Tower. You'd think that all that work getting a degree would teach them to remember to focus on not just work, but no, I have to practically keep them from starving to death sometimes, she thought. Darcy had just settled in for the night. She was on her couch, intending to veg out on a Stranger Things binge when she heard the knocking on her door.

"Ugh, doesn't anyone respect the lazy anymore?" she asked herself as she got up from the couch. She opened the door and felt herself become very irritated. "Oh, it's you."

"Hi, Darcy," Natasha grinned. "Can we talk?"

"Do you have someone else you want to pimp me out to?"

Natasha smiled. Someone with a lack of fear for her was refreshing to the redheaded spy. Then again, she could just be pissed at me like Steve still is, she thought.

"I deserve that," she told the brunette.

"You deserve an ass kicking for that stunt," Darcy told her as the memory of last week's disaster of a date came back.

"May I come in?" Natasha asked, not wanting to dwell on Darcy's fully acceptable anger.

Darcy raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you armed?"

"Always," Natasha grinned. "But I promise not to pull anything on you." Darcy thought about just slamming the door on her. But knowing my luck, she probably has some weird spy-fu trick to get passed the lock, she thought. So, against her instincts, Darcy stepped to the side and let Natasha enter.

"Thank you," Natasha said as she walked passed Darcy. She looked around and was surprised by decor, namely the amount of books scattered around the apartment. "Never pictured you as a big reader."

"No one should be stimulated by their phone and Netflix alone."

Sounds familiar, Natasha thought.

"So, how can I help the Black Widow?"

"Please, call me Nat."

"Nat makes you sound boring and dull. Black Widow sounds cooler," Darcy said. Natasha watched as Darcy mused to herself for a second. "You know what? Nat it is," Darcy smiled.

Natasha smiled at Darcy. She knew that young woman was insulting her, but rather than actually feeling insulted, it kind of made her like the girl a little bit more. She motioned toward the couch, and Darcy nodded.

"I'd like you to give it another shot with Steve," Natasha said, deciding that being blunt was the best option.

"Not that I'd be totally against going out with the tall, dark uber-stud again, but like I told Jane –"

"Sometimes it's best to just walk away from the car crash?" Natasha finished.

"Hey, you two talk," Darcy said brightly. "That's good, I need all the help I can get getting her to act more spontaneous."

"Just like Steve needs to," Natasha threw out there.

Damn it, I just gave her a way in, Darcy thought.

"It was awkward as hell."

"And that was my fault," Natasha admitted. "I was…less than forthcoming with what was going to happen that night," she added, picking her words carefully, still not at ease with admitting that she was totally in the wrong.

"You lied, Nat," Darcy put it bluntly. Natasha shrugged while scrunching her face. "When you tell someone you have one thing planned for them, but have something totally different actually planned for them, that's what it's called – lying."

Natasha let out a small laugh. "Jane was right, your really don't have much of a filter."

"Filters are for people who don't want to say what they mean. I don't have that kind of time."

Natasha stared at the brunette across from her and started ticking off what she'd learned. Pretty. Smart. Braver than she looks. Honest – brutally. I am not leaving this apartment until she gives that man another shot, she thought.

"You're right, I lied to him. And I had no right to do that, even if my heart was in the right place. But hold that against me, not him." Natasha reached into her jacket and pulled out a slip of paper. She handed it to Darcy.

"What's this?" Darcy asked as she looked over a handwritten list.

"The things Steve's been wanting to get to when it comes to catching up."

"Not completely bad stuff," Darcy thought out loud as she read the list over. "Except disco. Tell him to leave that alone."

"How about you do that?" Natasha posed. Darcy looked over the paper at her. "I'll give you his number. Or let you into Avengers HQ. But please talk to him. Use this to jump start something. But please, give this – and more importantly him – another shot. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, but at least give it a try, because I think you would be perfect for him."

"I do this, I do it my way. I can't guarantee it'll work, and if it doesn't, I'll promise to at least try and not make it hurt."

"That's all I ask," Natasha smiled.

Steve was in his room at Avengers HQ, laying on his bed, trying to wind down from a hard morning workout. Today was a rare kind of day. The kind where there was nothing planned for him to do. No training with recruits. No meetings with Fury. No assignments and anything needing looking into. He figured he might make his way into the city, maybe find some places to sketch. Or maybe just find a quiet spot and read.

Before he could make a final decision, there was a knock on his door. Getting up, he went over and opened it, his eyes widening for a second at the person on the other end.

"Darcy?"

Darcy stood before him. She was trying to speak. Instead, she stood in stunned silence, her mouth slightly open, but still curving as if she wanted to smile. She was sure her reaction was normal she told herself as she gazed at Steve wearing only a pair of sweatpants. There isn't a woman alive who wouldn't pay to see this, she thought.

"Uh, Darcy?" Steve said again when she continued to just stare.

Darcy shook her head and composed herself as best she could. "Oh, uh…um, what's up, abs? Crap, I mean Cap. What's up, Cap?" she stammered as she shook her head again and tried to focus on what she came for.

"Nothing much," Steve responded slowly. "Not that I'm not pleased to see you, but…"

"How did I get in here? Nat let me in."

"I figured that, I was wondering why?"

"We're going out today. All day. As in right now," she informed him, giving him a big, flirty smile.

"Do I get choice?"

Darcy tried not to feel dejected, after all, she knew she was catching him off guard. She might even classify it as ambushing him like last time – almost. But she was not going to be denied, especially after seeing part of the present under the wrapping.

"Yes. But I was told today was a day off for you, so I figured that you might want to get out and do something. And if you happen to be with a prettied up me, even better," she reasoned for him, giving him another flirty smile, though this one was bigger and more gleaming. Steve would be hard pressed to deny that it lit up her face and made her even more gorgeous, if that was even possible.

"Give me a few minutes to change," he gave in.

"You're fine like this. I wouldn't dream of wasting your time with something as trivial as a pesky shirt." Steve smiled and turned back into his room. Before she could move Steve was sticking his head back out his door.

"Would you mind waiting in the lounge?"

"No problem," Darcy smiled.

"So, after what happened last time, I feel the need to be honest with you," Darcy said a little under an hour later as she and Steve were sitting inside of a pizzeria in Brooklyn that Steve used to go to back before he joined the army. After finishing getting ready Darcy asked him what he wanted to do and the only thing that came to mind was lunch. Darcy was surprised that a place he ate at almost seventy years ago was still around. But one taste of the pizza and she instantly knew why.

"Honesty is always good," Steve said as he took a bite of his slice. Darcy nodded.

"I didn't show up at your door randomly. Nat asked me to take another shot at going out with you." Steve looked at her, his gaze between skepticism and something else she couldn't read right away. "Again, not like last time. She just came by and explained why she screwed up," Darcy said cheerfully.

"Nat actually said that? That she was wrong?" Steve asked in total disbelief.

Darcy shrugged. "Not in that exact words, but I got to her to say she lied at least," Darcy smiled proudly.

Steve chuckled. He decided not to burst Darcy's bubble by telling her that if Natasha admitted that, then she was already prepared to admit that. As assertive and determined as Darcy probably was, he doubted that even she could get the Black Widow herself to admit something she didn't want to.

"So she asked you to…?"

"Consider giving her idea a second chance."

"I'm glad I warrant a second chance," Steve smirked.

"I thought about it, and figured if you aren't getting out much then I'd at the very least be in extremely select company as far as love interests are concerned," she smiled. "Plus, and don't be mad at her, but she gave me this," Darcy added as she pulled a small sheet of paper out of her back pocket.

Steve took the folded sheet and opened it. His face grew tight, but he wasn't upset as he read the words on it. "My list?" Darcy nodded. "I see you scratched off disco. And added –"

"Hair metal. Lesson one will be Bon Jovi," Darcy said so excitedly that she was practically bouncing in her seat. Steve glanced around to see if anyone was staring. "And have you seen Star Wars yet?"

"You're a Star Wars fan?"

"Anyone who's cool is a Star Wars fan," she informed him. "And you didn't answer my question: have you watched them, yet?"

"I saw The Phantom Menace, but wasn't impressed," he told her in a lukewarm response.

"That was your first mistake, you never start out with part four. In fact, you could totally skip the prequel trilogy and still be fine."

"Part four? It said it was episode one, I assumed that meant part one," he reasoned.

Steve watched as this serene look came over Darcy's face. Her lips curled into a playful little smile that Steve found very cute and suddenly a quick image of those lips pressed against his flashed through his brain.

"I know what we're doing today, my young padawan."

"We're watching one of them?"

"Not just one," she grinned. "We're going back to my place and having ourselves an original trilogy marathon," she nodded enthusiastically.

The Star Wars theme started trumpeting as the end credits of Return if the Jedi started rolling across the screen. Steve and Darcy were on her couch. They had started A New Hope sitting on opposite sides of the couch, Darcy laying across it, her feet resting on Steve's lap. By the time they started The Empire Strikes Back they were sitting next to each other, his arm reflexively going over her shoulder.

It was after one of her trips for more popcorn and beer before Return of the Jedi that they ended up in their current position, Steve leaned up against the arm of the couch with Darcy stretched out lengthwise and laying across him, her back against his chest and her head leaned back on his shoulder.

The bowl of popcorn was resting in Darcy's lap. While she knew she had to get up and stop the DVD, she also knew she was really comfortable where she was and didn't want to move.

"So, what did you think?" she asked in an effort to prolong getting off him.

"How old is George Lucas?" Steve asked.

"Seventies I think."

Steve was silent for a second, Darcy figuring that he was doing some math at the moment. While he was thinking he reached for some popcorn, only to have Darcy swat his hand away. She grabbed a few kernels and brought her hand up and fed them to him.

"So he just missed World War 2," he muttered through a mouthful of popcorn.

"Huh."

"Lucas. He was born in forty-four. World War 2 ended in 1945. I was just wondering because I see a lot of parallels between these movies and the war," Steve explained.

"And I take it you don't just mean the stormtroopers?" she chuckled. Steve grinned and shook his head.

"The political and security officers look like the SS, the imperial officers look like the wermacht, and because of what I remember from Phantom Menace –"

"Palpatine is definitely Hitler," Darcy finished for him. "But did you like it?"

"Yeah. Adventure, action, good versus evil, what's not to like?"

"See, this is why you don't start with Phantom Menace," Darcy gloated. She was about to ask if he wanted to pull an all-nighter and now watch the prequel trilogy when she felt his stomach growling. "You're seriously hungry?" Darcy asked, the question more in shock than inquiry.

"You sound surprised. It's been a while since we had lunch."

"Yeah, but we went through four bags of popcorn, of which you ate three of them," she reminded him.

"I eat a lot," he told her.

"I'll bet." She reluctantly pulled herself off him and checked the time on her phone. "It's almost seven, we could go out for dinner?" she asked though it sounded more like a statement than a question.

"What's good around here?"

Tasty's Diner was a 24-hour restaurant in Astoria not too far from Darcy's place that she tended to go to when she wanted a quick meal but didn't want to spend too much or get too dressed up. The last part was helped by the fact that they delivered, but after being on the couch for a little over six hours both she and Steve felt getting out of the apartment wasn't a bad idea.

"You know you didn't have to change," Steve said as he took off his helmet and took Darcy's as she got out from behind him. "What you had on was fine."

"Yeah, but it was just a regular T-shirt. You're in a button down. You look presentable, I looked like I just threw something on I grabbed from the floor," she argued as she smoothed out her hair.

"Well, what you have on now does look better," Steve complimented as he gazed at her in her black peasant top.

"Thank you," she smiled with a playful cocking of her head. Without thinking, she next took Steve's arm as they started making their way in since they were parked near the end of the parking lot.

As they walked the short distance, the both of them felt an unexpected comfort in the small bit of contact. For Steve it seemed almost natural after spending the day with her, like if she hadn't done it, he would've offered it to her. Darcy felt as though she should have taken his arm. She didn't doubt that he probably would've been chivalrous enough to offer it, but she felt even stronger that he wouldn't mind. They didn't speak, but each felt like this was something that could become second nature for them. That was why each one felt a small pang of longing when she had to let go so they could get through the door.

"Welcome to…oh it's you," said the older woman behind the register when she saw Darcy.

Steve looked at Darcy knowingly. "Been here before?"

"Once or twice."

"This one isn't married is he?" the woman asked when she saw Steve.

"And I see you made an impression," Steve joked. He turned to the girl. "And no, I'm not married, ma'am."

The woman "humphed" and just turned her attention to the customer walking up to the register. Steven chuckled while Darcy rolled her eyes and found them a booth near the back of the place. They settled in and a minute later the waitress walked up. "Hey guys, my name's Jenn, I'll be taking care of you tonight. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Iced tea," Darcy told her. Steve indicated the same.

"Alright, I'll be right back to take your orders," Jenn said before walking off.

"I'm thinking there's a story or two about you and this place," Steve smiled.

Darcy rolled her eyes and groaned. That old bat just couldn't keep her mouth shut, she thought. "Not really," she tried at burying the issue.

"Oh no, you don't get off that easy," Steve grinned. "She made sure to ask if I was married for a reason. Something happened didn't it?"

Darcy took a deep breath, and then let out a sigh. "Fine," she relented. "A few months ago, I was here with this guy. It was our third or fourth date, things were looking good, I thought he was a nice guy, cute, had a job…and apparently he also had a wife he didn't mention. We were half way through our food when she comes bursting in the door, all wild-eyed and seven months pregnant."

"Seven months?"

Darcy nodded. "She comes to our table, screaming at him, saying how she knew he was cheating again, and calling him all sorts of names. Then she turns to me, and before I can even tell her that I had no clue he was married, she starts in on me; calling me a homewrecker, and a slut, and that I should find my own man. Now I was willing to let the homewrecker comment slide, but no once calls me a slut outside the bedroom – and only if I give permission to say it there…"

Steve tried not to feel too awkward at that revelation and instead concentrated on the absurdity of what he was hearing.

"…So I stand up to start defending myself, but before I can, she grabs a full pitcher of water from one of the waitresses passing by and just dumps it on me."

At that point Steve can't hold it in any longer and breaks out laughing.

"It's not funny," Darcy says in annoyance. Steve nods his head without stopping his laughter. "Stop it," she whines. "It was embarrassing because I was wearing this white sundress, not too tight, but it definitely hugged certain areas," she said with a wave of her hand over her breasts.

"It went see through didn't it?" Steve asked as he tried to catch his breath. Darcy nodded.

"And you want to know the worst part about that make-shift wet T-shirt contest?" Steve nodded, thoroughly engrossed in what could be left to say. "There was a little league baseball team here when it happened."

"Oh God," Steve guffawed.

"Yeah, there I am, drenched to the bone, in a now see-through white dress in front of a bunch of twelve and thirteen year old boys who are pulling out cell phones. The battle-axe at the register is the owner. She called the cops as all this was going on and tried to get me arrested for indecent exposure."

Steve was laughing loud enough that people in the other tables and booths were taking notice. "Did they?" he asked though his laughter.

"No, they said it wasn't my fault and that I wasn't intentionally flashing anyone. It also helped that I had on underwear to keep from really giving those boys a free show," she answered him. "Jane says I caused an entire group of boys to become addicted to a specific type now." Steve, who had been starting to calm down, started laughing all over again.

Before Steve could say anything else, Jenn arrived with their drinks. She looked at him like he was insane and made a questioning gesture with her hand at Darcy. "My date finds the scene that happened to me here hilarious beyond words," Darcy dead panned. Jenn just smiled and walked away saying she'd give them a few more minutes to decide on what to eat.

As she watched Steve try and calm down she couldn't help but get a self-satisfied grin. She liked seeing him like this. She always figured that he was so serious all the time. That he didn't actually know how to enjoy life. But seeing him try to calm himself down from a fit of laughter was amazing to watch. He was loose and just enjoying the moment. And sure it was a moment brought on by one of her least favorite moments, but if it gave him some time to be something other than a battle hardened warrior then she was fine with that.

Steve walked Darcy to her door after dinner. The rest of the meal was not as boisterous as Darcy kept the embarrassing stories to a minimum of one for the night. The rest of the time was spent with the usual things people on a first date talk about – each other. Steve found it therapeutic to let some stuff get out. As he revealed how he was sometimes didn't feel truly comfortable in this century, he for once didn't feel like he was burdening someone, but that he was actually being listened to. And Darcy, she was glad to out with a guy who she was fairly certain was actually listening to her, and not just paying her lip service until he could try and get into pants later.

"Do you want to come in and watch the other Star Wars movies? Finish our marathon?" she asked, hoping he'd say yes.

"I do," he said, and then felt a kick in the gut when he saw her eyes light up. "But I need to get back to HQ. Tomorrow isn't a day off for me."

"That's fine," she said, her voice carrying a bit of detection. "I…I had fun today."

"Me too," he told her, stepping closer. "You know, most of the training is done by five or six. If you didn't mind, I could come by after and we could watch them, day by day, maybe?"

Darcy tried to look like she didn't want to jump with glee at the thought of four more days with him, and for once, found herself succeeding. "Call before you come over, I wanna make myself pretty," she joked.

"Like you need to."

"Ah, was that a line? Did Captain America just use a line on me?" Darcy teased.

"It was not a line," Steve responded.

"Really? Cause it sounded like a line."

Steve blushed for only a second, but Darcy still caught it and she had to admit, it made him even cuter. Now she knew what people meant by the words boyish charm. Without warning him, she placed her hands on his shoulders and used them for leverage to pull herself up, thankful that the heels of her boots made sure she wasn't too much shorter than him, and kissed him. It was quick, but the two of them felt a spark of electricity.

When she pulled away, Steve leaned down and kissed her. This time, it was far from quick. Their lips met and soon the two of them were kissing heatedly right there outside her door.

They stayed that way for a minute until the sound of one of her neighbor's door opening shocked them apart. They looked around and saw a little old lady who looked to be in her late seventies coming out of her apartment. She looked at the two of them and smirked knowingly.

"Hello, Darcy," she said with a smile.

"Hi, Mrs. Harrison," Darcy said sheepishly. "How are you?"

"Good. Entertaining company I see," she said, having some fun at her young neighbor's expense.

"Um…I was just leaving," Steve said.

"Well then, maybe Darcy will introduce you properly next time," Mrs. Harrison said before walking toward the elevator. Steve and Darcy watched the doors close behind her and started giggling.

"Are you sure you don't want to come inside?" Darcy offered.

"Early start tomorrow. I need my rest."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow," she said softly. Steve nodded. They kissed quickly and Steve walked off, heading back to Avengers Headquarters before he changed his mind and stayed.

As she closed and locked her door behind her after entering her apartment, Darcy let herself fall back and lean against it, a big smile on her face, thankful that no once was there to see her probably looking like a silly little teenage girl with her first crush. Get a hold of yourself girl, she thought, it was just one day. One really, really good day with a nice guy that's you can't wait to see tomorrow, she heard a voice inside her head tell her. She pulled herself off her door and started getting ready to change and relax, counting down until Steve was at that door tomorrow.