(Authors Note: Wow! I continue to be blown away by how many people are liking this story! I mean it's like, wow.. There are tons out there, and in my opinion, much better written than mine, but you guys love it! Yay! It means a lot to me, it really does. Thanks for all the reviews, the faves and the alerts/subscriptions.)

On the car ride to his apartment, Steve tried to think of a time in his life he'd been more nervous than he was right now. He could only think of one for sure and definite time he'd been this nervous. And he didn't want to think about it, although in some ways, if not for the serum he allowed to be tested on himself, tonight wouldn't even be possible.

"Carolina, did he hit you a lot?" Steve asked quietly, watching her face. He'd gotten pretty damn good at spotting liars, and when she winced as if the question made her think about earlier, or any time before the ex boyfriend he'd basically tossed out the back door of Bucky's old townhouse, he knew exactly why she was so cautious with men.

Carolina didn't honestly think she could answer him, but she couldn't very well keep it to herself, either. Maybe she should tell him now, let him make up his own mind about if things between them should go any farther. She was sick of waiting on something bad to happen. Finally, she took a deep breath and said quietly, "Yes. He did it a lot. I fought back, of course.. But, needless to say, I got out. Not many are lucky enough to say that."

Steve nodded and spontaneously leaned over, kissed her on the cheek and said quietly, "I'm sorry, that had to have been hard to answer.. I probably shouldn't have asked.." as he went quiet again.

Carolina shook her head and said quietly, "No, you're allowed to ask me things. I'm not like most girls, I've got no real reason to lie. Besides, you try to start something on lies, it never works out. And you told me the truth about who you were, so it was actually only fair."

"This is me." Steve said as he nodded to the older apartment building, and added "It's not much.. But it's safer than your place tonight. I'll fix the lock tomorrow, I don't want you and Anna staying in the house knowing one of the locks is messed up." He ALMOST said that he'd hate if anything happened to them, but he wasn't sure if it was too soon to say something that almost amounted to the three words he felt, but couldn't quite yet say.

Carolina nodded and then said " Sorry.. About what you walked in on earlier." as she parked her car, and they began to get Anna and the stuff they'd bought with them to stay over tonight, into Steve's apartment. He carried Anna in, and lay her on the couch, as Carolina followed him in. She stood watching quietly, watching the careful way Steve pulled the blanket up on the little girl. It really touched her and she could almost hope, but she was still so scared that at any moment, all of this could be over, he could decide he wanted to "live" a little, rather than be tied down to her, a kid.

And maybe, he was only doing this now, because of the bond he'd had with her gramps. All the doubts in her head had been there for a while now, and though she managed to keep them quiet most of the time, when things like tonight happened, she couldn't help but wonder.

Steve turned and saw her standing there, and walked over, pulling her against him. "It's okay. I'm just glad I got there when I did." he admitted as she nodded, and then said quietly, "Me too." as she looked up at him. He leaned down, pulled her into a kiss similar to the one he'd given her days before, in the kitchen of her townhouse. "Are you sure your eye is okay?" he asked in concern, placing his hand under her chin, tilting her face so that the light shone down on the bruise, and wincing.

"I'm fine, Steve. Trust me, I've looked worse after one of his "talks." " Carolina said quietly as she checked his face, making sure that jerk of an ex hadn't hurt him as she mumbled, "If he hurt you.." Steve laughed and then said "Doll, I lived through a war, a seventy year long nap. I think it's going to take more than one little fist fight to hurt me. Besides.. He kind of hits like a girl."

Carolina laughed a little, glared playfully and wiggling her finger at him said "Some of us girls, pal, can pack a whallop." Steve eyed her, and pulling her closer, pulled her in for another kiss. "We can sit down, if you want?" he asked quietly, as he held her against him. Even though he didn't want to break this moment, or the kiss to sit down, he figured he'd offer, she might be tired from earlier.

"This works fine for me." Carolina mumbled back as she looked into his eyes and let herself move closer. When the kiss finally broke, because they absolutely had to breathe, or die, she smiled at him and then said "How do you do that?"

Steve raised a brow and then she explained, "Calm me down. I mean I can be mad as hell, ready to spit nails and then.. I'm calm." He shrugged and then said "No idea, maybe it's because .. Okay, I have nothing."

She remembered that she hadn't eaten, and knowing Anna was asleep, probably not a good idea to wake her up, she looked at Steve and asked, "Are you hungry? There's this pizza place, just around the corner from here, and they deliver."

Steve nodded and smiling said quietly, "I'm sorry. Kinda ruined our whole night." as he raked his hand over his hair and looked at her before nodding, "Yeah, I'm a little hungry." Carolina dialed the number and then settled in beside him on the couch, cuddling against him. "You.. didn't ruin tonight. And I'm glad you came when you did, if you hadn't.. He'd have still been there and by now, I'd have had to call the police. Or run him over in my car." Steve raised a brow and Carolina laughed gently as she said "I'm just kidding. Though the thought has crossed my mind, more than a time or two, since he's done this to me."

He ruffled her hair, and slid his arm around the back of the couch, pulling her closer to him. "So... Other than that.. How was your day?"

Carolina smiled and then said "Well, Anna didn't get to tell you herself, but she was really dying to tell you, she's in another play AND she wanted to give you the picture she drew for you earlier." as she looked up at him and then added, "As far as me.. Hmmm. You missed Diner Catfights the sequel. Gina and I had it out again today, and no, I didn't sit on her this time, I managed to try and behave. Only try though because she really got under my skin today."

Steve laughed and then smiling said " It's nice.. Talking like this, instead of over that damned phone. I hate technology, or it hates me. Stark's still giving me a ton of crap because I forgot you can't microwave certain things, and almost burnt the place down again." Carolina groaned and then smiled and kissed his cheek as she said "It is nicer to talk to you like this, than over the phone."

After that, they both fell silent for a little bit, both of them wanting to say something, both of them afraid to, for basically the same sets of reasons. Steve turned to look at her, and pulled her into his lap, kissing her as his hands went to the messy ponytail her hair was in. "It looks better down." he whispered as he tugged the band from it, watched it cascade around her shoulders, as he stroked her face and deepened his kiss. Carolina laughed as she said "Better?" and smiling, he nodded and said "Much better."

They'd turned on the tv, although neither of them were really watching it, and Anna was snoring lightly on the loveseat opposite them. Somehow, they wound up falling asleep, and the next morning, when Steve woke up, he found himself squeezed in behind Carolina, his arms around her tightly. He smiled to himself and then moved around to get comfortable again. He'd watch her sleep a little bit, and gradually, he fell asleep again.

When he woke up the second time, it was to the smell of pancakes, chocolate chip ones at that, and the sound of the two females laughing coming from the kitchen (which rarely got used) in the apartment. He got up, walked quietly to the doorframe and leaning in it, watched them quietly, before clearing his throat, and then saying, "Why didn't you wake me up, Carolina?"

Carolina looked up and smiling said "Because I was going to, when I finished making you breakfast, Mr. Hero. I really, really hope you like chocolate chip pancakes, because that was the only thing Anna wanted this morning, and it's nearly all I really know how to cook, as far as breakfast type food is concerned."

Steve smiled and walked in, sitting down at the table, laughing as Anna got into his lap, read him lines from the play she was in, and tried to eat not only her pancakes, but his, when he wasn't looking.

The passing thought came to him that maybe he could do this, make this work, and maybe he could take the next step with them. But for now, he'd try to plan it out, he wanted things to be special.