Steve Rogers knocked lightly on the door he stood in front of. Nerves racked his body, he wasn't sure what he was about to do. Waiting in silence, a voice called out softly from the other side.

"Come in!" The feminine voice belonged to Pepper Potts. As he stepped into her office, he shut the door lightly behind him. If Tony gets wind of this… He thought with a grimace, he would never hear the end of it.

"Hello Steve, what a pleasant surprise!" Pepper stood from her desk, smoothed out her skirt and walked over to him for a hug. "Is everything okay?" She asked him as she pulled away.

"Oh yes, I'm fine. I just… I need your help with something." Steve stood in front of her desk as she returned to her seat behind it. He wrung his hands, and stared down at his shoes. "I'm not good at this kind of thing and you're the only person…"

Pepper smiled. "Steve, honey, sit down. Take a deep breath and tell me what's got you so nervous." She smiled at him encouragingly.

He sank into the chair, relaxing his body. I am a super soldier. I've helped defeat Hydra and an army of Chitauri. I can do this. He forced himself to breathe deeply.

Pepper waited patiently, clasping her hands in front of her on the desk. After a few moments of silence, Steve looked up.

"Well..." He began.

June sat on her couch, watching a movie on television in her yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. A half-eaten bag of popcorn sat on the side table next to an empty soda can. It was Saturday afternoon, and after an exhausting week at her new job in Stark Tower, she was ready to relax and have fun. Seeing as all her friends were busy that day, she only had one option.

Relaxation.

All week she would sit at her desk and type out emails, transfer data from spreadsheet to spreadsheet, and organize files all while Steve sat in the chair next to her desk. They talked about anything and everything that came to their minds, both content to chat while she did her work. Each day he would sit in awe as her nimble fingers clicked the keyboard at a rapid pace, laughing during their silent moments and shaking his head in wonder.

"I just don't understand how you could type so quickly without even looking at where your fingers are going. If I tried to do that, all you would get would be a jumble of letters that wouldn't come close to forming words."

Each time she would laugh in response. "I keep telling you, years of practice and classes when I was in school. They teach you how to do it so you can write papers quickly and efficiently. Plus, growing up in Ohio didn't leave me with much to do. Not like here." She would wink at him, only because each time she did it his cheeks flushed red.

Some small part of her liked that she could have such an effect on the Captain America.

It was enjoyable, but what put her on edge every day was the unexpected visits from Tony Stark. While she was adapting to the fact that she was working in a building full of superheroes, that man was unpredictable at best. So after five days of the rollercoaster that was Stark Tower, she needed something enjoyable.

In this case, enjoyable came in a made-for-TV Lifetime movie. It wasn't the best, but with cheap cable, it was the best she was going to get.

As she reached for another handful of popcorn, there was a knock on her door. Looking over at the clock it read 2:04 P.M.

Oh please don't let it be Tony Stark again…

She steeled herself, expecting the worst. Instead, when she opened the door, her knees went weak and her stomach started what could have been considered a gymnastics routine in her abdomen.

Steve Rogers stood before her, in khaki pants and a button up green shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, with a bouquet of tulips in his hand. He smiled and left her speechless.

"Hello, June." He tilted his head forward towards her and waited for her response.

"I, uh," She coughed, attempting to buy herself time to compose her thoughts. "Hi." The shock of him standing at her front door was only just receding.

Oh my god, I'm in yoga pants and a ratty old sweatshirt. I haven't even showered yet today… Oh no. No no no…

She was suddenly hit by a wave of panic at the thought of Steve seeing her like this. She felt her cheeks grow hot and she attempted to cover face with her hand.

He laughed at her flustered appearance. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, no, not at all. I was just having a lazy day on the couch. Here, come in." She opened her door further and beckoned him inside. As soon as he was in, she grabbed the remote from the coffee table and muted the TV. "Is everything okay?"

"Well," he began, taking a deep breath before continuing, "these are for you." He held out the tulips. She reached out in awe and took the bouquet gingerly from his hands. "I was wondering if you had any plans tonight?" The emotions on his face were clearly mixture of fear and hope.

Her shock doubled. "What?" The words spilled from her mouth before she could stop them.

He suddenly looked crestfallen. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have come on such short notice. I wasn't even thinking-"

"No! Wait!" She held out her and stopped him. "I mean, no, I'm not busy tonight. I'm so sorry; I find I blurt things out when I'm shocked…" A pink blush crept back up to her ears. Her lack of filter was known to get her in trouble sometimes.

His eyes lightened immediately and he let out a relieved laugh. "Well, June, would you like to go on a date with me this evening?"

Her eyes widened. All she could manage was a frantic nod of her head.

He laughed again. "Wonderful. Can I pick you up at 8?"

June found herself suddenly bashful. "Yes, that would be nice."

"Great." His smile was wider than she had ever seen it before.

"What are we going to be doing? Dinner?" She asked, curious since he hadn't said anything.

At her question, his smile turned sly. "It's a surprise. It won't be anything too fancy, don't worry."

She nodded, her mind engrossed in what tonight may hold.

"I will see you tonight at 8 o'clock, then." He gave her one last smile as he turned back towards the door. As he walked out, June peeked out her door to watch him walk away.

Did Steve Rogers just ask me out on a date? Oh my god. He did .

June reentered her apartment and shut the door behind her quietly before squealing and throwing her arms in the air. "Okay, now that that's out of the way," She began to herself, "what am I going to wear?"

Not that she needed six hours to get ready for a date, but she needed to plan and strategize. Nothing fancy, but I still want to look nice. What about that navy blue dress and my cream colored cardigan? Yeah, definitely that. Not too overdressed but I'll still look nice. Oh lord, what am I going to do with my hair?

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent in a frenzy while June attempted to get ready. Her nerves got in the way, making her overanalyze and second guess each choice she made while the clock ticked steadily until 8 o'clock.

Finally, a few minutes before 8 P.M., Steve Rogers knocked on the door to June's apartment. He tried to control his nerves and keep his hands from shaking, but all afternoon he had been excited and on edge. When the time finally rolled around to leave, he rushed out of the tower, eager to see June.

After a few moments of silence, June opened the door and stood before him. She was stunning. Her dark blue dress made her coppery blonde hair shine and her pale blue eyes sparkle.

"You look wonderful, June." He smiled widely, unable to contain his happiness.

She offered him a timid smile. "Thank you. You do as well." He had changed from his earlier clothes, into a red button up shirt and black pants. Just behind her, Steve could see into her apartment where she had set the tulips he had brought her in a vase on the coffee table.

He felt somewhat proud of the choice he had made.

"Thank you, although next to you I couldn't ever compare. Ready to go?" He offered his arm out to her, which she took. Hooking her small hand into the crook of his arm after she picked up her purse shut the door behind her, they headed out towards the street.

"So, are you going to tell me where we're going?" She asked with a smile as they walked, hoping he would give her something to go on.

"My apologies, but no. Tonight is a surprise." He looked down at her and reassured her with a smile.

She made a frustrated noise, but it was followed quickly by a laugh. "Alright, alright. I suppose I'll just have to trust you then."

"I suppose so." He humored her statement with a laugh. Once they reached the main street, Steve guided her to where a black car was stationed next to the curb. Opening the door for her, he ushered her inside before following her. After they were in the car, the driver started driving to the destination, apparently already knowing where they needed to go.

She laughed, "Does everyone but me know where we're going?"

"You'll find out soon enough, I promise." Steve reached over and squeezed her hand briefly before letting it go. The quick contact with her soft skin left his palm tingling and a tightness in his chest. From here, he could smell her perfume and it was intoxicating. A mix of lemon and vanilla, she smelled like lemon meringue or something fresh out of a bakery oven. It smelled warm and welcome, like home; comfortable and calming.

Riding in silence as she observed the sights around them, they stopped after a few minutes. Steve opened the door and held his hand out for June, who took it and stepped out of the car behind him. They were at the edge of Central Park and he watched as June took in their surroundings before settling her eyes on him.

She raised her eyebrow, but kept her mouth closed, trying to keep the smile from spreading across her face entirely.

He laughed and took a basket from the hands of the driver, who had gotten out of the car and retrieved it from the trunk. With a thanks, Steve nodded his head and offered his arm again to June. As she took it, they began to walk together deeper in to the park.

"So," she began, "I think it's safe to assume there's a picnic?"

He laughed. "I'll give you that one, yes. But there's more afterwards."

After a few minutes of walking the paths, the two found a suitable spot and Steve pulled a blanket out from the top of the basket he had been carrying.

They both sat down and Steve began to pull the food out from the basket, handing one of the white cardboard boxes to June. She took it hesitantly, opening the lid slightly and peeking in.

A laugh escaped her lips, it was like music to Steve's ears. "Cheeseburgers?"

"There's ice cream too. Peppermint, right?" He quirked a smile at her as she blushed lightly, obviously surprised he remembered their conversation from the Monday before.

As they ate, the two chatted idly, June trying desperately to resist prodding him for information. "Can I at least have a hint?" She cast him a look and widened her eyes, hoping he would cave at her second attempt.

He did.

With a laugh, he responded. "We won't have to leave the park. The two other things that I have planned are around here as well. It'll take a few more hours." He smiled back at her. "There, you got three hints. No more or else you'll ruin the surprise!" He poked her arm and she laughed, apparently satisfied.

After eating, they gathered the things back into the basket and Steve checked his watch. "We're right on time. Ready for event number two?" He held out his hand this time instead of his arm.

With a deep breath, June slipped her hand into his and let him guide her down the path. The two fit together perfectly; his skin rough and warm, hers soft and cool. He tried to hide the smile that had fixed itself on his face so that he didn't look like such a fool, but it was a useless attempt. The simple fact that he was holding June's hand and the feel of her skin on his was enough to make him happy for days.

As Steve led her down the path with his large hand engulfing hers, she struggled to think straight. His hand was warm and protective, shooting sparks of adrenaline through her system and making butterflies tumble in her stomach. I suppose this means I'm definitely attracted to him. She had to stifle her laughter at the obvious thought.

Soon he guided her into a clearing where a large crowd sat, scattered across the grass with blankets and lawn chairs all facing a large white screen that had been set up.

"Movie in the park?" She asked, looking up at him. She'd never had the opportunity to come to one, always working the delivery job or busy with other things.

"Casablanca." He nodded. "I hope that's okay, I only saw it once before I enlisted and I remember enjoying it… I thought you might want to see it as well."

She laughed as they wandered through the crowd in search of a spot to put their blanket down. "I love this movie. It's been a while since I last saw it though."

"Not as long as me." He winked at her. She laughed at his joke and pulled him towards a clear spot in the grass. As they settled down on to the blanket once again, Steve sat close to her. Shoulders touching, June leaned into him slightly, feeling the need to continue to be close to him.

Since setting out the blanket and sitting down, they had to separate their hands, leaving June's feeling cold and empty. Soon enough, as the movie began to flicker on the screen and the crowd grew hushed, his hand found hers once again.

As his thumb traced invisible patterns on her skin, she had a hard time concentrating on the movie that was playing. She was entirely aware of his body heat radiating to her, the feel of his fingers intertwined with her own, and the now familiar and comforting smell of his cologne.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to force herself to focus on the actors, and yet not long enough to have her hand in his, the movie ended. The credits began to roll and he looked over at her.

"Would you like to go for a walk?"

She smiled. "Yes, I'd like that." They stood once again and gathered their things, separating themselves from the crowd.

As if it were out of habit now, Steve reached for June's hand without even looking, expecting it to be there and it was. She smiled at the action.

"So," She began, "I've had a wonderful time tonight, Steve."

He gazed down at her. "So have I."

After a few moments of silence between them, he spoke again. "I know I've told you about my life before I woke up." He cleared his throat. "But I think that there's something else that I should tell you, June. It's only fair."

Oh no… He was married. He had a lord if that's the case, it's older than I am! I should have known this was too good to be true... She thought to herself, automatically assuming the worst.

He continued on, completely unaware of her internal thoughts. "I've come to the realization that I have feelings for you, June. It was so unexpected and I know that we only just met a few weeks ago…" He trailed off and June's mind immediately went blank, forgetting her earlier fussing.

"You do?" She said softly, squeezing his hand. When he nodded, a smile spread across her face. "I like you too. I understand if you want to take this slow; with everything that's happened to you…" She trailed off, elated at his confession.

He stopped as they reached the middle of Bow Bridge. June gazed around, taking in the twinkling of the lights as they reflected off the water and turned back to the man standing before her. He had set the basket and blanket down before taking both of her hands in his.

"You have no idea how much I appreciate that. This is hard for me to do, since I haven't felt like I've belonged anywhere in this world until I met you. You make me laugh, you make me happy, you make me feel normal again and that's all I've ever wanted since I woke up."

She smiled, but let him continue on.

"It's because of these feelings that I think you should know that I fell in love before I crashed that plane." June's eyes widened. He had only told her a vague overview of what had happened, and from what she pieced together from his story and the news coverage on him, she had an understanding of the event. To hear that he had been in love stung, but soon enough her logic took over.

"Steve, that's okay. I understand." She nodded and squeezed his hands that enveloped hers, urging him to continue.

"Her name was Peggy. She was in the war with me. We worked together and she was the first woman I ever really fell for. I guess tonight just reminded me of that, with the movie, and being here with you. I wanted you to know. It didn't feel right hiding it."

She offered him a slight smile. "I appreciate you opening up to me. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is. I'm glad you told me about her. I hope you know I'll never try to replace her or make you forget about her. If she was a large part of your life before all of this, I understand that. I'll deal with it, okay?" She reached up and rested her hand on his jaw, guiding him to look at her. During her statement his eyes had wandered to the water, clouding with memories and emotions.

"It's just," He paused, his gaze moving back to her, "you're so much more than I remember her being. Maybe it's because the memories faded, or maybe it's because you're so wonderful. All I know is that suddenly I don't want to hang on to that anymore; I don't want to hang on to a life that's long gone. I want to hang on to you… To this." He reached and cupped her face in his hand.

June's breath hitched in her throat as he bent down and pressed his lips lightly to hers, sending sparks and excitement coursing through her body. She returned the light kiss before he pulled away with a wide smile that spread across his entire face.

"I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere." She whispered, returning his smile.

ATTENTION: After a long and tumultuous summer, here I am again. Sadly, it is only for this chapter and to alert all of you to head on over to AO3 (Archive Of Our Own if you aren't yet familiar, and my username is still ambpersand) where you can find all of my stories, plus some new ones. New updates will occur on that profile from here on out, and will resume a regular updating schedule.

I look forward to seeing you all there!