Soft unfamiliar sounds woke him, and Steve opened his eyes, looking up. Water. A shower.

He remembered where he was, and the sudden realization that Lauren was now three yards away and naked made Steve grit his teeth. It didn't help that he was already tumescent; before he could stop himself he rubbed a hand along the thick ridge against his fly, then chided himself.

Not now, Steve argued with his body. His body was being rebellious about the matter, and his prick throbbed. Steve manfully ignored it and checked his watch; nearly eight. He sat up, pulled out his phone and left a message for Fury, giving the basics of the situation and promising to call later.

The water had stopped and to distract himself Steve went to the kitchen and looked at the coffeemaker there. It felt awkward in a wonderful way, this knowledge that Lauren was close by, going through her morning so easily. A little searching revealed the filters and can; Steve managed to get a pot brewing without too much trouble.

Coffeemakers were one of the first things Steve had mastered since waking up in this decade. The java had much improved since the Forties, and it was a hell of a lot easier to make, too.

A few minutes later he heard Lauren step out of the bathroom and the click of a bedroom door. "Okay, the bathroom's free. Thanks for starting the coffee!" she called through the door.

"You're welcome," Steve called back. In the bathroom he used the facilities, washed his face and hands then brushed his teeth with his finger and some paste. After rinsing, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully; not much stubble, but he'd definitely need to shave by tomorrow.

The scent of bacon greeted him when he stepped out again; Lauren was cooking up a skillet, her hair up was in a turbaned towel and she had his favorite sundress of hers on—the blue one with the little daisies design. For a moment Steve stood blinking at the sweet domesticity of it all, overwhelmed with quiet longing. He helped himself to a cup of coffee while Lauren cracked eggs into another skillet, humming.

"I figure we might have a long day today, so breakfast first," Lauren murmured. "I called Binh and told him what's happened and to take the day off. He sends his thanks too, by the way."

Steve gave a shrug. "We all care a lot about Joe. Thanks." This last was for the plate of she slid in front of him with bacon and toast on it. For a second he let himself fantasize as he watched her scoot back to the stove to stir the eggs.

Married-this was what it would be like. Someone to talk to in the morning. Someone to make coffee for and share toast with.

Someone to look out for.

Lauren brought the skillet of eggs over and began to push the majority of them onto his plate. "I didn't even ask if you like them scrambled," she sighed. "Do you?"

"Yep," he nodded. "Hey, save some for yourself. You need to eat just as much as I do!"

Lauren took the towel off her head, gave herself a small portion of eggs and scooped it up with toast. "Sleep okay?"

"I was fine. You?" he replied between mouthfuls. She still looked tired, but she smiled.

"I slept," Lauren shrugged. "I'll do better after I see Grandpa today. I've been thinking about what to bring him—mostly his personal stuff and bathrobe."

They finished breakfast and Steve offered to do the dishes while Lauren did her hair and packed; he was done by the time she'd finished both.

"I want to run over to Nail-o-Rama and let Sally know," Lauren told him as they descended the stairs. "After that we can go."

"We've got time," Steve agreed, and watched her head out as he sat on the bench out front. A few people wandered by, noticing the 'closed' sign with a frown and Steve knew how they felt. He studied Lauren through the glass window across the street, enjoying the way she moved as she spoke to Sally. Lauren had a swing to her hips when she walked, and sometimes he had to slow his stride a little so she could keep up.

When she came back out and headed for him, he stood, feeling like a happy puppy at the sight of her. She gave him a smile, shifting her purse to her shoulder. "Sally will keep an eye on the store even though it's closed. She said she'll start a Novena for Grandpa tonight."

"That's nice," Steve nodded, waving to Sally, who waved back. "Ready to go?"

-oo00oo-

Joe looked pretty haggard, Steve thought, but then again it was to be expected. He was alert though, and when he saw the two of them coming in the door, Steve swore there was a flash of a grin on the other man's face.

"Grandpa-" Lauren was hugging him, bending over the hospital bed. Steve hung back to give them some privacy, hearing little reassurances that did his heart good. Finally Joe raised his voice and called him over.

"Steve. Damned glad you're here. Damned glad. Made a pretty big idiot of myself as you can see."

"No sir," Steve replied lightly. "Accidents happen. Could have just as easily been Lauren who fell."

"I'd like to think that, but . . ." Joe shook his head wryly. "They're going to give me some new-fangled hip part sometime tonight."

"Grandpa's going bionic," Lauren smirked in clear relief at seeing him in good spirits. "He'll be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."

"Nothin' doing," Joe protested with a wry expression. "I'm keeping my feet on the ground, little girl."

"Good, that's where they belong," she replied lovingly, and Steve watched her squeeze his hand. "Need anything?"

"Got a hankering for some water," Joe admitted. "The nurse has some bottled stuff back at her station."

Lauren excused herself and headed out; after she'd left Joe looked at Steve, his expression more exhausted. "Needed to talk to you, son. Is she okay?"

"She's holding up," Steve replied, coming closer. "But she's pretty shaken."

"Yeah, I thought she would be. Steve, I want you to do me a favor and stick with her—at least until I'm through this and back on my feet. Looks like you two have worked through whatever rough patch you were having, and truth is, I don't want her alone at the store. There have been two attempts at break-ins, and if word gets out that I'm not there . . ."

Steve nodded. "I understand. I'd be glad to do it, sir. You can count on me to um . . . behave myself." He felt the blush flash over his face, but kept his gaze on Joe, who seemed vastly amused by it.

"Oh I know that . . . Captain."

For a second Steve couldn't breathe, but Joe smiled, his eyes bright. "Yeah, figured it out a few days ago, son. Haven't told Lauren; that's your business, along with whatever else you young people do. You've been coming around for over a year, so I know I can trust you to be there for her whether or not I pull through this."

Steve found his voice. "Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it. I wish I'd known the first Captain back in the Forties—man was a legend, and a damned good soldier. I hope you'll live up to his reputation." Joe closed his eyes for a moment. "She comes back, we were talking about the shop, got it?"

Steve grinned. "Got it."

As Lauren gave Joe the bottled water, Steve took a moment to consider what had just happened. Joe knew—well, Joe knew half of the truth. Steve figured the second half could wait until after surgery. In the meantime, felt a sense of giddy delight in the trust the other man had in him.

He wouldn't screw this up, Steve vowed.

-oo00oo-

They left Joe, promising to return before the surgery, which was scheduled for six in the evening, and headed back to Time Was. Once there, Lauren mentioned a need to bake—"I've got to stock up on brownies and peach pie for Friday"—so Steve nodded. When she casually added, "You might want to go back to your place an overnight bag," his pulse did a quick rumba for a few seconds.

She shot him an amused glance. "I wasn't born yesterday, Steve Rogers; while I was out of the room, Grandpa asked you to look out for me, didn't he?"

He couldn't lie. "Yes, but I wouldn't—I promised . . ."

"To be a gentleman," Lauren teased quietly. "And you are. Thank you. I always feel a lot better when you're around."

Moved, Steve looked down at the floor, but Lauren reached a hand out to touch his chest. "Dinner will be early—four thirty or so. Meatloaf okay?"

He lifted his head and nodded shyly. "That would be great."

Steve grinned all the way back to the Stark Tower, and twenty minutes later when he climbed back on the motorcycle with a backpack, he headed for Time Was, feeling like he was finally going home.