A guy and a girl can be just friends, but at one point or another, they will fall for each other... Maybe temporarily, maybe at the wrong time, maybe too late, or maybe forever. Dave Matthews Band

The next few days were both surprising and probably the most relaxing I had for a long time. Although Steve had the gift of making me feel emotions that I could do without, he also came to understand me as anyone else. In other words, I was not as calm as during the last days. Even the nightmares that seemed to have taken a turn for the worse did not seem so horrible anymore with my days filled with the ex-soldier.

"You should have seen the other day, Davis had to get the bed in the nursery and all he was doing was holding the plan like an idiot. Who can't read a plan these days?"

"Well for his defense, Ikea's plans aren't the most explicit." I reminded, shrugging my shoulders before I remembered with a slight grimace of the grocery bag weighing on my arms.

I should have planned bigger when Robbie asked me if she could accompany me to the mall. Obviously, a simple go for domestic shopping was transformed into a real journey to get the latest fashionable items for baby. I could not believe she had managed to drag me to all those stores. And worst of all, I now had to serve as a mule to carry all those purchases.

I let out a sigh as I readjusted the weight of the bags in my arms before feeling the threatening look of the brunette beside me.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise as she narrowed her eyes closer to me. "Which side are you on?"

"Yours, of course."

"Credible." She snorted with sarcasm before leaving an exhausted grunt at the sight of the stairs leading to my apartment. "You couldn't find an apartment with an elevator."

Robbie was not as exasperating as normal, but I assumed that pregnancy really took a turn on her mood.

Goodbye sweet little Robbie and hello tyrant Rob !

I shook my head giving her an incredulous look at her complaints when I was the only one to carry the bags before watching her back taking the steps with difficulty.

"You know, you could have stayed quietly at home. It was your day off after all." I recollected with a slight insinuation in my tone while being careful where I was walking.

I did not really have the best visibility at the moment since I was unable to see my feet and watching Robbie's ascent was not helping the situation.

The brunette stopped at the first stage to catch her breath while laying her hands on her growing bump. "You said you were going to buy some onesies with teddy bears. Teddy bears, Dee."

"So? It's cute."

"It's so plain." She commented with a roll of her eyes as I ended up joining her, letting my eyes roll in my turn."It's my baby. And my baby needs onesies with cute quotes like 'nobody puts baby in a corner' or 'my mom is a cool mom'."

If I did not have my arms already occupied, I would probably have hit my palm flat against my forehead.

That was all I hated.

"So basically you want a lie or turn your baby into Patrick Swayze. Good to know. "

I took the lead as I began to climb the other set of stairs under Robbie's scathing eyes.

The latter left a bored breath to my comment before using the ramp as she spoke. "Anyway, what's up with you? You accept that I accompany you unconditionally, you didn't flee once to burn your lungs with a cigarette, you had a relooking to look more like your before you and you answer with answers clear and honest. "

"And I can't do that without there being a reason?" I rhetorically replied.

"No." Robbie agreed without hesitation making me roll my eyes. "So ... tell me. What could initiate such a change?"

I gave him a look over my shoulder as a warning. "There's nothing to understand. Save yourself hours of thinking."

"Boring." She whispered as I stopped again on the second floor to face her with an arched eyebrow at her answer. "I mean, when are you going to have something scandalous to tell me? I'm bored."

I clenched my jaw this time clearly annoyed by her insensitivity before reminding me that it was good war. I had never really been very sensitive to begin with.

I tried to control my temper before shrugging my shoulders. "Well, I expect to visit Sam in the next few days."

Even since the incident with Steve at the museum, I had decided to pay a visit to Sam. He was best placed to handle a panic attack and all the problems associated with the war. Admittedly, this seemed to be Steve's first and I thought I was doing pretty well, but if I could find a way to handle the situation without having to undress me was even better.

"Sam ? Like this delicious piece of cake chocolate Sam?" Repeated Robbie with a salacious smile already on her lips at the mere thought.

I immediately gave her a disillusioned look before shaking my head briskly to try to erase this image from my head. "First, ew. It was typically how a white woman on the Upper East Side would have called Sam. It's racist and reductive."

"I am Afro-American."

"One more reason." I insisted with a sharp look before giving a breath of relief at the sight of my stage.

I was finishing up the last steps grimacing as I could definitely feel the numbness in my upper limbs now. I looked impatiently over my shoulder to make sure that Robbie followed before slowing down once we were in the hallway.

The brunette hastened to join my side with a slight frown. "Scratch what I said, you're still that same boring little bitch."

"Glad to hear it." I said with a small smile before returning my eyes forward to the agreement of a door closure.

I could already feel a grunt at the back of my throat as Steve just decided that moment to make his entrance.

The tall blond turned on his heels before hurrying to join us at the sight of my current state."Hey, Dan. Let me help you. "

"Thank you."

I passed the bags unconditionally since I had learned that chivalry was anchored in his DNA. Not to mention that I was probably about to lose my arms. Obviously, Steve put me to shame as he lifted the bags as if nothing had happened.

However, my frustration soon turned into irritation as Robbie suddenly stammered into surprise. It may be that I left aside the fact that I knew Steve out of the center or even that I had let the tall blond enter voluntarily into my life.

"It's ... you ... what's going on here?"

Robbie immediately turned to me as Steve let me sigh before explaining the situation. "Steve, Robbie. Robbie, it's Steve my neighbor."

"Neighbor ?" Robbie whispered with wide eyes before giving her usual smile to the family members of the center. "Hi."

I could not hold back the slight hiss of laughter at the scene as Steve nodded with a small smile as a sign of recognition. "Nurse Myers."

"Oh, call me Robbie. Obviously, Danae and you are friends. "

I immediately pinched my lips to her allusion before going over the big blond to open the door of the apartment. I immediately went back to Robbie since she was currently devouring with her eyes the uncomfortable blond.

I shook my head at the mere sight before ignoring Robbie's murmuring protests as I pushed her into the apartment. "Okay, one second."

I hastened to take the bags of Steve's arms with a small smile amused on my lips despite everything. Steve gave me a quick look in response to my obvious amusement.

"Here, do you think you can wear them?" I asked Robbie as I signed the bags in my arms.

"Why ?" She asked at once visibly confused before putting her wide eyes back on Steve."Oh. Oh ! Yeah, yeah, give them to me."

I rolled my eyes in anticipation as she took the bags before looking at her as she gave all but discrete glances on the blond still hovering in the hallway. I shook my head as I closed my door with a simple gesture leaving Robbie on the other side before slowly turning on my heels to face Steve.

The latter had a slight, confused smile. "Was it really nurse Myers?"

"One piece of advice : never trust the smiling face of a nurse." I warp, crossing my arms over my chest. "They're evil."

Steve let out a laugh, shaking his head before putting his hand on his hip to look at me under his cap with a cheerful little smile. "I'll try to remember it. But I'm not sure you're following your own advice."

"That's exactly it. I have experience." I remember with a firm nod before laughing at the same time as the blond.

I gave him a closer look as I noticed his running clothes consisting of sweatpants, a hooded jacket over a gray t-shirt and a pair of running shoes. Even in such a sketchy attire, he remained divinely attractive.

Honestly, it was terribly unfair.

"Danae, it was you that I hear laugh like a school girl?"

I let out a grunt as I pinched the bridge of my nose at Robbie's familiar voice behind the door before looking at Steve through my fingers at the agreement of his laughter. "Don't encourage her."

"I didn't do anything." The blond defended, raising his hands in surrender.

"Good." I admitted visibly suspicious before heading to the door while giving him a look over my shoulder. "Don't wrinkle a muscle."

I could already imagine the blond rolling his eyes to my comment before he called me again."Hey, Dan ..."

I was still a little disturbed by the fact that he wanted to call me by that particular nickname but I assumed that if anyone could use it, it was him. After all, he was the one who knew the most about me now.

"Mhm?"

"You're free tonight ?" He asked almost confidently.

I had to admit that he was beginning to lose more and more of this hesitation with me. He was not a real sleaze yet, but it was always comforting to know he was confident enough to come up with this kind of thing.

With a smile, I nodded with my hand on the handle. "What do you say about a cooked meal? I went shopping. I could cook at your place."

"You know how to cook ?" He wondered with a slight reserve, making my eyes narrow with slight offense. The blonde widened his eyes immediately. "Not that I question your abilities."

I immediately raised my finger to point it in his direction before raising my chin proudly. "I want an apology when you have tasted my famous Bolognese pasta."

Steve let a slight smile seep again on his faces making him more attractive if possible. The fact that he is not have a girlfriend was beyond me. Still, I could easily understand his reluctance. It was never easy to let the past go.

"I would be the only judge of that." He teased back, letting me smile as I watched his receding back.

I shook my head with that lingering smile on my lips before opening the door just to widen my eyes as I caught up with Robbie.

Surprise soon gave way to boredom as I helped her to straighten up before going around her."Seriously, Robbie? "

"Oh, no, no! You don't have the right to reprimand me." Robbie objected as she slammed the door making me wince. "It was Captain freaking America."

I rolled my eyes with slight annoyance as I walked around the kitchen counter to serve me a glass of water."He has a name you know."

"You're the neighbor of Captain America."

I turned on my heels taking a sip of my glass with my eyebrows raised at the sight of her starstruck expression.

I ended up putting my drink on the counter before retrieving the bags on the floor to store their contents. "You see him regularly in the center. There is nothing to make a story of it."

"Uh hello? Does it really pass you over the head that this guy fought Aliens alongside the Hulk?"

I had to admit that this statement had the gift of disturbing me somewhat. Only after getting to know Steve, I thought I could not see him any other than that. He was just Steve for me.

"If you're that big fan, you can buy a onesie with his shield." I said sarcastically as I made my way back into the kitchen.

Only, Robbie did not take the joke at all as she nodded her head dreamily. "Oh my god, he would be so cute with a Captain America onesie. And he could take a picture with him."

I put the bags on the side of the sink before giving a completely disillusioned look at Robbie."It was a joke. "

"Not for me." She answered without a shadow of a doubt making me shake my head with a sigh as I tidied the package of pasta in the cupboard.

I could understand why he did not want to be recognized. It was a nightmare to hear Robbie talk about him like that. It just had the gift of creeping me up.

"Can you ... just don't talk about him like that?" I asked with a grimace of discomfort. "He remains a human being. An old human being but- "

"Old? The guy is like a sex stick on-"

I paused in my tidying process at her sudden break before giving Robbie a look at worry.

However, the brunette just seemed to gauge me with a look as wide as a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

"What?"

"You like him." She exclaimed, immediately making me giggle in disbelief.

I honestly could not believe it was her first deduction. Did she even know me?

"It's probably the most absurd thing I've heard." I asked without a shadow of a doubt as I walked through the kitchen to put away the rest of my shopping.

Only Robbie seemed far from finished. "Wait, that's why you suddenly changed?"

"Whoa, how evolutionary." I said this time with a hint of irritation in my tone as I gave her a sharp look over my shoulder."Just because I decided to live a little more, that doesn't automatically mean that I do it for a man."

"Fine. But you must admit that you laughed." The brunette insisted as she settled down on the bar stool before she began to pull out her shopping for her unborn baby.

I paused in my storage with my arms crossed and raised an eyebrow with platitude. "So?"

"Nothing." Robbie replied, just nonchalantly shrugging her shoulders before taking one of the onesies to bend it.

I immediately narrowed my eyes on the brunette in suspicion before shaking my head silently."Is this still one of your reverse psychology tactics?"

"It works ?" She exclaimed with a broad smile that made me smile anyway.

I gave a laugh to her antiques before taking my turn one of the onesies to help her.

I checked one last time for all the kitchen items for tonight. I was not sure that Steve had an apartment as supplied in terms of electronic gadgets as ours.

Of course, I did not know that the super-secret company he worked for had made sure he had a fully equipped kitchen. I was taking a quick walk to the fridge to get the minced meat and the fresh tomatoes before putting them in the paper bag that I had picked up earlier. I was doing a final mental checklist to make sure that I did not have to go back and forth between his apartment and mine before giving a simple satisfied nod.

If everything went as planned, I would not have to go on an unforeseen trip and explain to Kate why I was bringing back items from our apartment to the apartment next door. Robbie's reaction was enough for me today.

I narrowed my lips at the simple reminder before heading to my room to check one last time my reflection. I decided to opt for a simple and casual outfit. A simple short-sleeved black t-shirt tucked into the waist of my ripped knee-length jeans. My hair was up in a messy half-bun over my head while the rest of my curls cascaded down my shoulders.

Once satisfied with my appearance, I returned to the living room kitchen to retrieve my bag before heading to the hallway of the entrance to put on my pair of converse white. I juggled the bag with one arm as I tugged on the tongue on the back of my sneakers before trampling my feet into the ground to adjust to the shoe.

I made sure to lock our apartment before heading to the door next door.

I did not hesitate for a second to let me in with a mischievous smile as I made my way to his kitchen. "Honey, I'm home! And I cooked."

I put the bag on the small table now filled with manila folder before frowning slightly in curiosity. I took a discreet look at the opening onto the living room before leaning slightly as I tried to look inside the folder.

I was almost at it when Steve's familiar voice made me jump slightly, "What are you doing?"

"Oh god!" I blinked visibly surprised before giving him a bored look. "Can you at least announce yourself when you enter a room?"

"In my own kitchen? "

I rolled my eyes as I walked away from the small table and its interesting contents before picking food to start cooking."You know it's something of the twentieth century. You have to announce yourself in your own kitchen."

I did not need to look at him to know that he gave me that famous flat look that let me shrug my shoulders before turning to his cupboard in uncertainty. I decided on the first over the sink before creasing my lips at the sight of the glasses.

"If you're looking for pots and pans, it's in the drawer below." Steve explained at once with a small smirk, letting my fingers snap in his direction.

"Got it." I hurriedly took out the utensils I needed before giving a curious look at the blond."So, these files ... what is it?"

Steve seemed to stiffen somewhat as he glanced over the files before clearing his throat as he turned his blue baby eyes back to my shape. I could easily see his hesitation as he wrinkled his lips as if he weighed the pros and cons of telling me the truth.

Knowing a little better the tall blond, I knew that trust was not really something that came easily. This was another point we shared.

So I decided to give him time as I took out a chopping board from one of the drawers before moving the tomatoes under water waiting.

"It's just files that I have to study for a mission." He finally said, letting me shake my head.

Nevertheless, a small smirk adorned my lips as I realized he had not lied to me.

A fact that Steve was not slow to notice with slight confusion. "Why the smile? Is there something funny?"

"No, no, not at all." I assured with that lingering smile before giving him a look while continuing to cut the tomatoes. "It's just that you told me the truth. That's all."

Steve frowned at my answer before looking at me more closely."How do you know I didn't lie? "

"Captain America? Lying ? Nah, impossible."

Steve let out a breath of laughter before straightening himself to pull the button off his sleeves from his plaid shirt and back on his venous forearms."Anyway, let me help you."

I literally had to force myself not to look like I was stunned again at the sight of his divinely carved stature. It was unfair really.

However, I was quick to record what he had just suggested leaving me immediately lift the sharp knife in his direction as a warning. "You don't approach this kitchen, it's clear? From now on, it's my territory. Stay in yours."

"You always been so authoritarian?" Steve gave me a shrug as I walked around to get more ingredients from the bag on his little table.

I went back to the counter before giving him a sarcastic look. "If you were on twitter you would know it already."

"Twitter?"

"Right. It's a social network. You can post a bit of everything. Your desires, your thoughts and the adorable little gif ..."I was not long in noticing his lost gaze, letting me put the knife to shake my hand in the resignation."You know what ? It's not important. "

I looked up from my cooking to watch his reaction just to see him hold a smile at my expense. I narrowed my eyes on his little weasel's head as he ended up giggling, making me mimic a grimace in response. I murmured under my breath as I turned to light his gas stove before taking the pan filled with chopped tomatoes and spices. I then went to his fridge where I had previously stored the meat just to make a little break at the sight of beers in the lower tray.

A small smile adorned my lips as I took two bottles before straightening to shake them to the blond.

The latter frowned slightly with an uncertain little smile. "Are you sure it's wise after the last time?"

"Please, last time I swallowed one of the strongest bottles of vodka in Alfie's bar." I said as I closed the fridge door with my hip before putting one of the beers in front of Steve. "I know hold my liquor."

I uncapped both bottles before taking a sip simply to pause at the sight of the hesitant look of the blond.

I raised a simple eyebrow by way of question raising the blonde to leave an uncertain breath."You shouldn't drink like that. "

"Why? Because I'm a lady?" I was slightly bothered by his judgment.

Steve immediately rolled his eyes to my tone before putting down his beer. "I never said that a woman couldn't drink."

"But it's not politically correct, right?" I retorted with a sharp look before making a show to take another sip. "Well, flash info, grandpa, the women of now are free and independent."

"It's not ... arf..." Steve immediately defended visibly embarrassed before finishing in defeat.

I gauged him with a small smile visibly amused by his embarrassment before resuming the preparation of dinner. I could hear Steve moving behind me as I stirred the tomatoes before settling on a record playing in the living room. I immediately glanced at the agreement of the approach of the blond simply to see him take a long sip of his beer. Obviously, he was somewhat nervous.

I shook my head as I resumed my occupation.

The rest of the preparation was spent in silence. Steve was content to go through these famous mystery files again while I finished the task of preparing dinner.

It was not uncomfortable.

To tell the truth, I was really enjoying this moment.

The record he had chosen was a bit more up-to-date and I could easily be rocked by jazz music. It was nice to be honest. Much nicer than any of my nights in the last three years.

I was so distracted by my thoughts that I did not even notice that at one point Steve had exchanged these famous files for the famous notebook I had searched the other time.

It was only when I turned on my heels with the intention of asking him to set the table that I noticed he was drawing. Noting that he also seemed too deep in his concentration to notice my presence, I walked towards him to get a better view of his drawing.

Only a slight smile surprised my lips as I realized he was drawing me. And god, he was really good. I tried not to think too much in his drawing since it was me, but I could not really hide the fact that I was strangely flattering that he had judged me worthy to represent.

However, I could not really admit such a thing without seeming somewhat ambiguous. After all, it was enough for me to be friendly with the guy so Robbie thought I liked him. Not to mention that I was not interested in this way with Steve. Admittedly, I was the first to say how attractive he was and I could already see that he was probably the type of any girl on this planet. He did not really have any defect other than his obstinacy but I was the same in a sense so I could not really judge him.

Anyway, even though our moments were helping my frozen heart to warm up, I was simply unable to give a new place to anyone else.
Ben was and probably will remain my one and only love. This simple thought made me sit slowly in front of the blond as I watched him with a sad little smile along my lips. I let my eyes trace the curvature of his fingers to his venous forearms before moving to his biceps threatening to tear his shirt dated. He was definitely something else.

I had never really noticed before but he had a style definitely out of time. He used to wear a simple T-shirt with jeans but it was quite rare.

That was enough to remind me of the conversation I had with Robbie earlier. Or rather, the realization that came to my mind during this conversation. Until now, I had never really paid attention to the other guy. The nationalist symbol that everyone seemed to idolize.

Only, the fact was that he was much more than Steve Rogers. He was a timeless being who had undergone an experience that made him out of the ordinary. His muscles were not the result of intensive sessions at the gym but a serum originally created to defeat the Germans.

The thought was enough to make me swallow in the realization. This man in front of me had lived more than anyone. He was definitely a big threat and I had fun at his expense, hit him and even threaten him many times.

Now, I was sure the beer was not enough to make me nervous, but I was sure I felt like that right now.

However, I did not have time to think anymore as Steve suddenly frowned before sniffing the air, perplexed. "Do you smell that scorched smell?"

"Oh shit!" I exclaimed as I bounced off my chair before rushing to the stove to turn off the pan.

I left a groan irritated at the sight of the burnt tomatoes before immediately casting a murderous glance at the tall blond with the agreement of his laughter. Steve immediately brought his hand to his lips to try to hide his amusement but I could still see that little sparkle in his azure eyes. I rolled my eyes in sight before quickly turning my eyes away as I could feel a slight smile threatening to bend my lips anyway.

With a sigh, I grabbed the mittens attached to the oven rail before putting them on to put the pan on the counter.

"So ? Verdict?"

"It's burned." I said with a disappointed grimace.

This brought a hilarious sniff of the blonde making me look at him bored. "And I was happy to taste your famous pasta Bolognese."

"It's not over, okay." I insisted as I pointed at him with conviction.

Suddenly, I found myself reviving a small flame of competition. He literally came to tickle my ego and I just could not let it pass. I immediately rushed to his fridge where I had previously seen a pot of industrial tomato sauce before returning to pasta cooked to perfection.

I gave a narrowed look at the blond as I could see him watching me with a curious little smile."What are you going to do ?"

"Alma always told me that nothing was ever really lost." I answered without really thinking as I poured the sauce into the pan containing the lightly burnt tomatoes.

"Alma?"

"Ben's mother." I replied visibly distracted again before taking a break from the realization. I looked up to meet the blond's sympathetic look. "She ... she's the one I come to see in the center. She has Alzheimer's."

Steve nodded as he turned his beer on the spot before frowning slightly. "They suffer from the same disease."

"They?" I repeated with slight surprise.

Steve immediately raised his slightly moist eyes before nodding his head with a sigh. "The friend I'm going to see. She ... Peggy. She suffers from the same disease."

It was not hard to see that Peggy had a special importance for him. In addition to being probably one of the last people of his time still alive, she seemed to have an important place for him. It was almost written on his face. In addition to sadness, nostalgia and this famous guilt.

"But she remembers you." I tried with an encouraging smile in my tone.

"Yeah." Steve whispered with a faint smile.

I silently nodded in anticipation of letting him manage his emotions before pausing as he went on.

"She was the first woman to see beyond that scrawny little guy." He confessed with a nostalgic little smile before shaking his head with a laugh as he looked up at me. "I was so nervous the first time we ended up together. I was unable to form a sentence without stuttering."

I found myself smiling with him as I could see how much he cared about her. Clearly, he loved this woman. It was as clear as the day.

Unfortunately, he had lost her.

To tell the truth, Steve seemed to have lost everything once in the ice.

"I promised her a dance." He breathed with a deep, frowning, visibly angry frown. "I have never been able to keep that promise."

Probably the thing to do right now is to initiate a contact. I knew it was what most people would do in this kind of situation but I was not sure I could handle it. Clearly his situation was strangely echoing mine and I was not really fit for that kind of thing. I had become totally amorphous in terms of empathy and I did not know what would stop me from talking about Ben in my turn. So with a deep, trembling breath, I took a sip of my beer alerting the big blond as he frowned more at the sight. I hastened to avoid his look as I swallowed the rest of my beer in one go before resting it by swallowing.

I took a moment to catch my breath before giving a look as if nothing had happened on the blond."Where are you putting your plates?"

"Uh ... the cupboard up." He answered softly visibly still confused as to my reaction.

I hurried to give him my back as I could feel the tears flowing behind my eyes before I tried to focus on the task at hand. I totally ignored the blond's attention as I was doing two round trips to set the table.

Finally, Steve moved himself on the small table, letting me bring the dish of dough and the bottle of wine I had chosen earlier. Steve raised an eyebrow at the sight of the bottle but did not comment on my choice. Instead, he just took the bottle to serve me before filling his own glass halfway.

"So, here are my famous pasta Bolognese. I advise you to add parmesan. It's even better with." I explained as I gave him his plate filled before signing the small packet of cheese on the side."Enjoy your meal."

I had to admit that I was a little nervous as I took a sip of my glass of wine while watching Steve take a fork from my plate. He gave me one last falsely suspicious look as he brought the fork to his lips before chewing silently.

There was a moment of silence between us as he took in the exploding flavors in his mouth before swallowing with a real smile of contentment. "Whoa it's ... delicious, Dan."

"Told ya." I boasted with a real smile before digging my turn in my dish.

After that, Steve and I ate again in a relatively comfortable silence. It was only when our two plates were empty and Steve served the last two glasses of wine from the bottle that he decided to step on a rocky territory.

"How did you meet Ben?" He asked shyly.

I raised my eyes to the edge of my glass before resting it immediately while swallowing. I wrinkled my lips as I took a moment to catch my breath before absently banging my fingernail against the wall of my glass.

"We were in the same unit. He was one of my men. A real hothead." I let out a laugh in memory before rolling my eyes. "I know he was trouble right away. But I still fell in love with him. He gave me everything I ever dreamed of. A sublime wedding in the forest-"

I could see Steve raise an eyebrow visibly fascinated by my confessions making me roll my eyes.

"Believe it or not, I can love romantic things."

Steve immediately raised his hands in surrender before crossing his forearms on top of the table. "He seemed to be a good person."

"Peggy too." I admitted getting a look from the blond before letting me fall heavily against the folder in the dung."And now look at us. We had everything to be happy. Now we have nothing left."

Strangely, Steve found himself frowning as he nodded between us. "It's not necessarily true. I may have lost everything before but I think I improved. After all, I just shared a nice dinner with you."

"Charmer." I replied as I leaned over to get my laugh back while Steve let out a laugh.

I shook my head at the sight before leaving a small smile of my own as I took a sip of wine.

Steve leaned back against the back of his chair before giving me a look of contentment. "I'm serious. Thank you, Dan."

"And you start again." I exclaimed in boredom. "Rule number 1 Rogers, never thank a woman because she gives you a good time. Be more confident."

"Oh, you're giving me advice now?"

"Duh!" I replied with an obvious grimace. "You can't stay eternally single. Seriously, it would be a mess."

Steve immediately rolled his eyes in response before crossing his broad arms on his chest. I could not help but feel pity for this poor shirt.

Seriously, the buttons seemed to scream for freedom!

"I'm too busy for that."

I gave him a hardly credulous look before crossing my arms in my turn on my chest."But you have time to entertain my little mean ass."

"It's different. You're my friend." Steve objected as if it were so simple.

I wrinkled my lips in a bored pout before leaning my head to one side with a smirk. "You know that if we keep spending so much time together and you keep calling us friends, people will think we are friends with benefits."

"Friends with what?"

I let out a laugh at his obviously adorable confusion about the subject before shaking my head as I stood up to retrieve the dishes."Forget it. Another reference that you can live without."

"No, I want to know." Steve insisted as he stood up to take the dishes from me. "And you cooked. I'm doing the dishes."

I let him take the dishes from me before leaning against his counter as he walked to the sink."Are you sure you can cash it? It's something like PG-18."

Steve gave me an impatient glance at my teasing, letting me shrug my shoulders as an answer.

"You asked for it." I conceded as I smirked at his casual back."Friends with benefits is when two friends decide to explore the fleshly side of their relationship."

My smile already present widen further as I could see his shoulders stiffen in the realization. I did not even need to look at him to know that a slight pinkish tint had settled down his cheeks. I shook my head on the blond still too innocent for my sense of humor before finishing to rid the rest of the small table.

I put the dishes next to the drip tray before leaning against the islet to observe Steve with a small smile. His eyebrows were deep in thought, leaving me wondering about the contents. I had to admit that I had come to truly appreciate his thought process and it was always distracting to not know what a person was thinking in our presence.

Finally, Steve looked up in my direction with determination. "I'll go on a date when you're ready to go too."

I immediately let a scoff before giving him a disillusioned look. "In other words, never."

I rolled my eyes at the mere thought before pushing myself from the islet to get my glass of wine. I definitely could not have this conversation by being sober.

"Why should we only talk about my love life?" Steve challenged again as he turned off the water before turning on the cloth to wipe his drenched hands."You're also single."

I snorted in my glass, nearly missing my mouthful at the question before giving him a flat look in response. "Not for more than seventy years."

"I wasn't even conscious." He reminded with a slight hint of boredom at my persistence.

I shook my head with a sigh before hitting his bicep with envy."Science can work miracles. But I still prefer little Steve. Maybe I would have agreed to be friends with benefits with him."

"Dan ..."

"What? I'm serious." I insisted as I leaned over his counter to support his bored look. "Fine, I will not talk to you about a girl anymore. Even if you could pull any girl in the area."

Steve rolled his eyes with attitude as he copied my position with his arms crossed over his chest. "It's not even the same rules anymore. How could I know how to go out with a woman?"

"Oh, come on, man. It's natural."I replied, rolling my eyes as I took another sip of my wine before pointing in his direction. "Okay, tell me your idea of a perfect date. What would you do ? Better, what would Steve's pre-serum do?"

Clearly, I was getting a little drunk. The relaxed way I was acting was a clear indicator and the slightly amused smile on Steve's lips was also a clear indicator of his knowledge.

Nevertheless, he just shrugged his shoulders with a deep frown in the reflection. "I don't know ... we used to go to dance. So, a good dinner and a dance, I guess."

"Mm ... it's not bad. I'm sure a lot of girls would be lulled by the concept."

Steve raised a curious eyebrow at the fact that she had not voluntarily included her."But not you?"

"Ew, I don't know how to dance." I winced at the thought. "I have always been more of an outdoor-type of girls."

"Outdoor type of girl?"

"Well, Ben had taken me to see the stars in the Iraq desert for our first date. He had prepared peanut butter sandwich and jam."

A nostalgic smile appeared on my lips at the mere memory before I noticed the silence between us. I looked up at Steve just to see him watching me with a small smile of his own.

I raised an eyebrow in question, letting the blond clear his throat with slight embarrassment."Mm ... it seems romantic. "

"Yeah, he was the romantic between us." I agreed with a laugh before finally finishing the rest of my drink.

I pushed myself out of the counter and put it down in the sink, careful to get around Steve before I stepped back and hit my hands together. "Well, I should probably go home. "

"Yeah, you should." Steve agreed, pushing himself from the counter. "I'm going to escort you."

"Not that it's really necessary." I teased with mischief as I headed for the entrance.

"Still." Steve insisted as I opened his door before making my way down the hall.

I turned on my heels to face him. " I will call you. You know about this little thing. Just slide your finger over it and-"

"Good night, Dan." Steve interrupted me making me laugh at his bored expression.

I shook my head as I walked towards my door before finally entering the safety of my apartment with a smile always present on my lips.

One thing was certain, Steve was now an important part of my life.