Chapter 9

With a yawn, I woke up to the window open and the sunshine pouring through, the curtains blowing slightly from the breeze outside. I smiled and rolled over, hugging my pillow to my body and feeling as though a major weight was lifted off my shoulders. Footsteps neared me and I looked up to see Steve holding out a cup of tea made just the way I like it.

"You remembered," I smiled, touched that he still remembered the way I take my tea.

With a smile and a nod, Steve sat down across from me on the bed.

I blew on the tea before carefully taking a sip as Steve cradled his cup of coffee. I watched him suspiciously, noting how he looked nervous. With a sigh, I spoke up, "Okay, what's wrong?"

Steve looked up at me, bewildered. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong. I'm just...confused, is all. How come it took so long for you to defrost?"

I shrugged. "They must have forgotten about me when they found you. Got too busy with Captain America to pay attention I suppose." I tried to smirk to lighten the mood but he didn't seem to be having it. I reached out and touched his arm. "Hey, don't worry about me. I'm just glad to be back with you. I don't care if it took them too long. The fact is, I'm back with you and that's what matters."

He smiled his warm Steve smile at me and my heart warmed intensely. I blushed slightly and pulled my hand back, cradling my cup and then carefully taking a sip. He reached forward and brushed a strand of hair off my forehead, pushing it back behind my ear. I smiled at him, nearly grinning.

"Still beautiful," he whispered.

I chuckled, "And you're still intensely handsome."

He continued smiling at me. "Come here." He opened his arms for me and I scooted into his lap, letting him wrap his arms around me. I curled against his chest and sipped my tea, feeling small but warm and cared for. Something I hadn't felt in over seventy years.

Everything was right with the world. I had my baby boy, I had my Steve back, I had two amazing best friends, and I was slowly returning to my original work as a special agent and a spy.

A knock sounded on the door and Steve gripped my waist a little tighter. I smiled a bit but tried to hide it, slipping out of his arms and over to the door. "Can I help you?" I asked, opening the door a crack.

Nat smirked at me. "Hey, Cap's missing and Fury's about to have a fit. Apparently he never went back to his apartment last night. Have you seen him?"

I smirked a bit then tried to hide it. "No, no I haven't seen him. I hope you find him quickly though."

The thought of Steve walking out of this room and trying to act casual while still wearing the same clothes from yesterday made me want to keep him to myself a while longer.

Nat smirked at me and slid a bag through the crack of the door. "If you do see him, here's a set of clothes for him. I stole it from his apartment so he doesn't have to worry about sizing."

With a grin, I thanked her and bolted the door behind her, the bag of extra clothes in my hand. I set them on the floor at the end of the bed when Steve suddenly pulled me to him again.

I chuckled, my hands resting on top of his arms. "Steve, we can't stay here all day. We've got to go to work."

Steve shrugged. "I wouldn't mind staying here all day."

I chuckled, smirking back at him. "After you talk and check in with Fury, then maybe I'll consider it."

He nodded, kissed my head and released me from his strong arms, grabbing the bag and going to change in the bathroom.

We headed out of the room together, making jokes on our way to meet up with Nat and Fury. When we found them in Fury's main space, I smirked at him (leftover from a laugh) and shrugged.

"Sorry, Nick. I had to borrow him last night."

Steve smiled, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"And why did you need to do that?" Fury asked.

I shrugged, "Because I needed someone to keep me safe while I chased down bad guys." I let it sit with him and rolled my eyes when I didn't get a reaction. "Nick, he just slept over. I can't hang out with my best friend who I thought was dead?"

Fury sighed but Nat smirked at me, giving me a nod of approval. She gestured for me to walk over and I quickly squeezed Steve's arm and had to get on my tip-toes to kiss his cheek. "I'll catch you later. Maybe we can grab some lunch?"

He nodded and I slipped over to Nat, feeling the best I've felt since James was born.

She smirked at me. "You look like you're on a cloud."

I chuckled, "I am. I definitely am."

I looked over my shoulder and found Steve talking with Fury. My heart soared just a little bit.

She started laughing at me and I could only smile back at her. "It's nice to see you this happy. You haven't been or looked this happy since James was born."

I shrugged, the smile still on my face. "What can I say, this is the happiest I've been since James was born." My smile dropped and I lowered my voice, "Speaking of James, where is he?"

She smirked, "And Mama bear is back." I rolled my eyes and let her continue. "He's at day care. I dropped him off earlier, no need to fret."

I grinned, "You're the best, you know that?"

She shrugged, smirking still. "Yeah yeah. Put it on my tab."

I rolled my eyes but hooked my arm with hers as we walked toward the desk where breakfast awaited. "Mm," I moaned, "You bought doughnuts..."

She chuckled, shoving the honey crullers in my face. "Hell yeah I did."

I mouthed a thank you to her before pulling one out of the box and eating it. I glanced over to Steve and Fury who both seemed like they were seconds away from being at each other's throats.

I threw a doughnut at Steve, aiming to calm him down from whatever he was mad about. It hit him in the face and I laughed as he looked over at me in surprise. I giggled and watched him look shocked, smirk, try to hide it, and then began to come after me, all while I doubled over. As he started moving towards me, I started backing away, tossing the box to Nat and then turning and running, laughing as I went. Steve chuckled and quickly caught me, laughing as he lifted me up by one arm around my waist and I was buckled over, still giggling.

"Steve!" I laughed and he pulled me to his chest, holding me tightly and smiling into my hair. I giggled and relaxed against him. "I am so glad to have you back." He nodded and held me a little tighter, setting me on the ground.

I turned in his embrace and wrapped my arms around him, my eyes tearing up as I clutched him closer. "I missed you so much," I choked out, speaking into his shoulder.

"Max you've got no idea...these past two years have been hell without you..." Steve whispered and the confession only made me cry harder.

"I know, baby. Trust me. I know." I mumbled, holding him tightly as the sobs turned to regular tears streaming down my face.

"Hey, but we're together now, right?" he whispered, pulling back and holding my face in his hands. I nodded, agreeing. "That's all that matters, doll."

I smiled at him and let him wipe the tears off my face and I kissed his cheek, taking his hand. We walked back over to Fury and Nat, me refusing to letting go of him, of which I told Fury straight away.

"Nick, wherever he goes, I go. I can't, I just can't. Not today." I said, sighing slightly.

Fury shook his head is dismay. "You two are going to be the death of me. I'm going to have a heart attack because of you two."

I smirked, Steve's arm now draped across my shoulders. "I sure hope not but judging by your reaction, I'm only getting good signals and an okay from you."

Fury shook his head again, not saying anything. I smirked at Nat and she handed me the doughnut box back. I licked my lips, pulling out another doughnut, taking a bite and then lifting it for Steve to eat some. He took a large bite and I brought it back down to my lips to finish it off.