A/N: in honor of Steve's 99th birthday, here is a dedicated Steve's Birthday chapter. Enjoy!

James sat laughing at me as I ran around the kitchen snagging ingredients. I hadn't thought about how much time I was going to need to actually prepare for the celebration. I had always had Bucky to help me out but now I only had myself...and a giggling toddler.

The baking process was generally easy, it was just what I expected it to be. A few eggs here, a couple cups of flour there, put it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit... wallah! A beautiful vanilla cake.

Which is not what happened.

When I pulled out the cake from the oven, I groaned and glared at the charred piece of bread laying in my pan.

"I cooked it for too long." I grumbled.

I walked over to James and took out some of the less burnt section and put it on the tray of his highchair. He ate it right up as I tossed the rest of the cake away. I began the baking process again, glancing worriedly at the time. I still had to get the decorations, and frost the cake, get my outfit together... I had a lot to do and only a few hours to do it.

As the mixer did its job with the new batter, my phone buzzed and I checked it only to see a text from Tony.

Hey, need anything for the party?

I let out a relieved sigh. He was a literal life saver.

Can you pick up some 4th decorations and come over early to help set them up? I want everyone here early so we can surprise Steve.

I got a quick response from him.

You did tell him that it was just a 4th of July party, right?

I rolled my eyes.
Of course I did. I'm not stupid.

Tony sent me back emojis of the crazy-eyed-tongue-out emoji (?) and I chuckled before stopping the mixer and pouring the fresh batter into the pan to bake for another 15-20 minutes. During that time, I cleaned James up again and double checked that his bag for the sitter's was all set. I cleaned up his room a little more and locked the door after I exited with the bag so that no one could accidentally sneak into his room later tonight.

I took the cake out and let it sit on top of the stove, pulling off the oven mitts and sliding on my flip-flops, picking up James, and his bag, going to drop him off at the sitter's house.

It was such a relief when I found this girl who was completely willing to babysit whenever I needed her. I made sure to pay her extra for all the stuff she's had to put up with.

Annie greeted me happily as I pulled into her driveway and she took James, bouncing him on her hip, his bag on her free arm.

"So what is it that you've got going on tonight?" Annie asked, smiling slightly.

I laughed, leaning against the car. "I've got a birthday party for my best friend today."

She nodded. "That's great! I hope you have fun!"

I smiled. "Thanks Annie. And please call if there's any issue!"

"Will do!" she said as she waved and then walked into her house. I slipped into the car and quickly drove to the store, buying three containers of vanilla frosting and a package of gel food dye.

After cashing myself out, I drove over to S.H.I.E.L.D. The office was closed today (fourth of July, everyone was given off because it's a government holiday) and I was lucky enough to have a key. I let myself in and wandered the empty halls of the offices until I found the room I was looking for—S.H.I.E.L.D.'s personal museum for the founders.

I walked through it and let my hand hover on Colonel Phillip's picture before walking over to my section of the small museum. I took the frame that had my old uniform in it off the wall and took out the uniform, leaving a note in the frame for whoever to find it tomorrow. I put the frame back up and left he building, re-locking the doors and drove home.

I put the uniform safely in my room and quickly got to finishing the cake. I mixed the food dye into the containers of frosting and then painted an American flag on the cake. The second I was done, Tony walked through the door.

"Hey Max, whatcha got there?" he asked, peering over my shoulder.

I grinned. "A perfectly frosted American flag cake. What's in the bag?"

Tony shrugged. "Streamers, a happy birthday sign, some candles... How old is Steve going to be?"

I laughed. "Um...he's six months older than me... it's only been two-three years since he defrosted... I would say 97?" I guessed, shrugging. Tony shrugged too and put the candles beside the cake.

"I texted everyone else to come help set up. Romanoff's bringing the alcohol and Clint's bringing the solo cups." Tony said, walking over to the living room and dropping the decorations bag on the ottoman. I brought over the tape and we started hanging up decorations.

Everyone was over quickly and it was a good thing too. Tony and I were both too short to reach the ceiling. Thor helped tape up streamers and Bruce passed around the party poppers and noise makers.

Before the clock changed (Steve is very punctual), we all hid behind furniture. Steve unlocked the door with his key and flipped on the lights. The rest of us jumped out and yelled "SURPRISE!" and blew the noise makers and the party poppers.

"Happy birthday!" I yelled, running forward and sprinkling him with patriotic confetti.

Steve laughed and brushed it out of his hair. "You guys did all this for me?"

"It was Max's idea. She's the real organizer here." Nat smirked, her arms crossed under her chest.

I laughed. "I wanted to celebrate you! You're old, dude. People celebrate old people."

The rest of the Avengers nodded in agreement.

Steve laughed. "Max, you're only five months younger than me."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "I know that, silly. But you're still old."

We laughed together and Nat started mixing drinks for everyone as we all sat in the living room, talking about whatever came to mind and drinking Nat's concoctions carefully.

After a couple hours I decided it was time for cake. I slipped into my bedroom with the cake and candles so I could change into my uniform and emerge with the lit cake.

I carefully put the candles that Tony got (the 97) and lit them, holding the lighter under the cake platter. I dimmed the lights and began to sing 'happy birthday' as I entered the room, everyone else joining in.

Steve watched me as I approached him, his eyes filled with love and appreciation. I smiled as the song finished.

"Close your eyes and make a wish before you blow out the candles, old man!"

Steve laughed at me and closed his eyes, paused for a minute, and then blew out his candles. I set the cake on the ottoman and walked over, sitting on the arm of the couch that he was sitting on.

"What'd you wish for?" I asked.

He grinned widely. "Now if I tell you, it won't come true."

I laughed as Bruce brought over the knife. Steve cut the cake and Clint pulled out the knife, his birthday being next. I slid into the seat beside Steve as we ate the cake and he looked over at me.

"Where did you even find that?" he asked quietly.

I smiled gently. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has it in the museum for the founders. I borrowed it for the night."

He grinned at me and kissed my head. "It looks just as good on you as it ever did."

I blushed slightly and he laughed at my sudden shyness.

"Gifts!" Thor yelled, bringing his bag forward.

Steve sat up and I moved our plates out of the way as Steve took Thor's gift in his hands.

"Thank you, Thor. I really appreciate this!" Steve said before looking through the bag and pulling out a box of special edition Captain America instant Mac and Cheese. I giggled behind my hand and Steve laughed. "Thank you. These are awesome."

Thor grinned and nodded his head as Bruce passed his gift forward.

"It's not much..." Bruce stated.

Steve smiled at him. "I appreciate it nonetheless." He unwrapped the paper and opened the box, grinning at Bruce's gift of a plush version of the character Anger from Inside Out. I tilted my head to the right out of confusion but it seemed more like an inside joke between the two of them than anything else. Steve was grinning widely and looked up at Bruce with his blue eyes as bright as the sky.

"Thank you, Bruce. I love it."

Bruce laughed, smiling widely. "I'm glad."

Nat pushed forward. "Mmkay, me next, nerds." She passed Steve an over-sized bag to which he looked up at her with questioning eyes.

"Just open it," she grunted.

Steve pulled out new boxing gloves and a new baseball cap. he smiled widely at her. "Thanks Nat. I'll be sure to use both of these."

"You'll need to. Your current gloves are a mess." she smirked at him.

He chuckled and Clint passed his gift which was a new pair of aviators to replace the ones Clint had accidentally shot off his face at target practice that one time. Tony's gift was a new gaming system that Steve would for sure never use unless Tony and I actually sat down and taught him how to use it.

Nerves grew in the pit of my stomach as everyone turned to me expectantly. I smiled shyly at Steve.

"Give me just a sec," I mumbled before getting up and bringing out my guitar from my room.

Steve's eyes widened but he didn't say anything. I pulled out one of the stools from the island and sat on it.

"Here's a little song because it's tradition and if you think I'm going to screw up a tradition after sleeping for seventy years, you're dead wrong." I grinned and Steve laughed as I began to strum the guitar.

"Waking up to kiss you and nobody's there
The smell of your cologne still stuck in the air
It's hard

Yesterday I thought I saw your shadow running 'round
It's funny how things never change in this old town
So far
From the stars

And I want to tell you everything
The words I never got to say the first time around
And I remember everything
From when we were the children playing in this fairground
Wish I was there with you now

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you
Mmmmm

I saw that you moved on to somethin' new
In the mall that you're at she's got her arms around you
It's so hard
So hard

And I want to tell you everything
The words I never got to say the first time around
And I remember everything
From when we were the children playing in this fairground
Wish I was there with you now

'Cause if the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you

You still make me nervous when you walk in the room
Them butterflies—they come alive when I'm next to you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you

And I know that it's wrong
That I can't move on
But there's something 'bout you

'Cause if the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you

You still make me nervous when you walk in the room
Them butterflies—they come alive when I'm next to you
Over and over the only truth
Everything comes back to you
Mmmm
Everything comes back to you
Mmmm"*

Everyone stared for a few seconds before applauding loudly. I blushed and set my guitar on the ground and walked back over to sit beside Steve.

"Thank you, Max. That tradition was always one of my favorites." Steve kissed my cheek and I screamed a little on the inside.

The party continued on and on, raving all night. Tony had too much to drink and passed out on my couch and I knew by then it was time for everyone to head home. We still had work the next day and while Tony's usually hungover at work, the rest of them aren't. I kicked them all out after they helped clean up and as Steve was walking out the door, he stopped at the counter, waiting for me.

I tossed out the plastic cups in my hand and grinned at him, joining him by the counter.

"Thank you for the best birthday surprise," he said while looking down at me.

I laughed. "You're quite welcome, Steve. I'm always happy to celebrate you."

He grinned down at me, his body shifting closer to mine. He dropped his smile and I moved closer to him, looking up into his eyes longingly. He started leaning in and I the same. We met half-way and I found myself standing on the very top of my toes, holding on to him as our lips crashed gently against each other's.

This was so much easier when he was shorter than me.

He pulled away and we laughed as I jumped onto the counter and he turned to me, cupping my cheek in his hand.

"Seriously, thank you Max. You always know how to make my birthday extra special." He rubbed his thumb across my cheek and I laughed.

"Just come here and let me kiss you again before you go..."

And so he did.

*Songwriters: Niall James Horan / Daniel John Donald Bryer / Michael David Needle / Jamie Scott

This Town lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Downtown Music Publishing

A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE! What a great day to be alive and witness Steven Grant Roger's 99th birthday! Wahoo! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and you'll possibly be getting one tomorrow! I might start updating only once a week though because it's getting harder to write chapters when they look so pretty in layout format. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your Steve-filled day!

xoxo
Alex